
I 







Fat, LINO Si'RiNOs, Ni:ar Hot Springs. Va. 



(NEW EDITION) 



History of Virginia 



FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS 



.^#?'^!l/>-^ 




BY 

MARY TUCKER MAGILL 



J. P. Bell Company, inc., Publishers 

LYNCHBURG AND RICHMOND 
VIRGINIA 



INTRODUCTION. 



In the preparation of this volume for the use of schools, 
I have been actuated by an earnest desire to place before 
her youth a faithful record of the past history of the old 
" Mother of States and Statesmen," — a record so full of 
honor that her children may well be proud of it. 1 have 
attempted no dry details, no political dissertations, but 
have adopted the familiar style of a " story-teller," draw- 
ing from the stores of incident, in which the past of Vir- 
ginia is so rich, such narrations as would be most apt to 
stamp upon the youthful mind the graver facts of history, 
interspersing such explanations as were absolutely neces- 
sary with a simplicity and clearness which will, I hope, 
render them easy of comprehension even to the youngest 
student of these pages. 

In deference to the prejudices and tastes of some teachers, 
I have affixed questions to the different chapters, though 
my own experience leads me to the conviction that the 
best mode of teaching history is not by questions, which 
make the lesson a task, instead of a recreation established 
in the midst of dryer and more abstruse studies. Let the 
class read the lesson and the teacher ask full questions upon 
it: thus a habit of attentive reading is formed, and the 
history of a single country does not employ, as is often the 
case, an entire session. 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

In preparing the book I have freely made use of the 
labors of others, to whom only a general acknowledgment 
can be made. 

The volume is earaestly recommended to the young 
student, with the hope that he may strive to imitate the 
many worthy examples held up before him in its pages, 
and that he may remember that the prosperity and honor 
of his State in the future, as they did in the past, rest upon 
tiie shoulders of her sons. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER L— 1492-1585. page 

Discovery of America — Early Settlements in America 13 

CHAPTER II.— 1606. 
Virginia the Mother of States — The London Company sends Captain 
Smith to America — His Early Life — Landing and Settlement at James- 
town — Wingfield appointed President .20 

CHAPTER III.— 1606 {Continued). 
Colony reduced to Want — Captain Smith commands an Expedition in 
search of Food — Adventures with the Indians — Manners and Customs 
of the Indians 27 

CHAPTER IV.— 1607. 
The Wicked Conduct of Wingfield — Smith goes in search of the Pacific 
Ocean — Is taken Prisoner — Is condemned to Death and is rescued by 
Pocahontas . 34 

CHAPTER v.— 1607 (Continued). 
Newport arrives from England — Trading with the Indians — Powhatan , 41 

CHAPTER VL— 1608. 
Smith's Expedition up the Chesapeake Bay — Quells a Mutiny — New Dis- 
coveries and Adventures , 47 

CHAPTER VIL— 1608 {Continued). 
What Newport brought from England — Coronation of Powhatan — Poca- 
hontas again saves Captain Smith 53 

CHAPTER VIII.— 1609. 
The Treacherous Dutchmen — Opechankanough — Smith, by his Wisdom 
and Bravery, saves his Crew — Arrivals from England — Smith's Acci- 
. dent and return to England 60 

CHAPTER IX.— 1609-1614. 
Arrival of Sir Thomas Gates — Jamestown abandoned — The meeting with 
Lord Delaware — The return — Capture of Pocahontas, and her Marriage 
and Death - 67 

CHAPTER X.— 1614-1622. 
Death of Powhatan— The Price of a Wife— Indian Massacre— English 
History as connected with Virginia— Governor Yeardley — Harvey sent 

to England — Berkeley appointed Governor 77 

9 



10 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XL— 1644. page 

Opechankanough makes War and is taken Prisoner — His Death — War in 
England — Lord Baltimore settles Maryland — Charles I. beheaded — 
How Virginia got the Title " Old Dominion" 87 

CHAPTER XII.— 1675. 
Indian Troubles — Bacon's Rebellion 95 

CHAPTER XIIL— 1675 {Continued). 
Bacon's Rebellion {Continued) 104 

CHAPTER XIV.— 1676. 
The End of Bacon's Rebellion — Lord Culpeper — The Tobacco Rebellion . 113 

CHAPTER XV.— 1684-1723. 
Treaty with the Five Nations — William and Mary College established — 
Parson Blair and Governor Spottswood — The Knights of the Horseshoe. 122 

CHAPTER XVL— 1723 {Continued). 
Difl5culties between the Colonies — Colonel William Byrd lays the Founda- 
tion of Richmond and of Petersburg — Settlements in the Valley of Vir- 
ginia — Early Customs 133 

CHAPTER XVIL— 1732-1755. 
Birth of George Washington — Incidents of his Early Life — Unsuccessful 
Mission to the French — War with the French begun ........ 140 

CHAPTER XVIII.— 1755 {Continued). 
Battle of Fort Duquesne — Braddock's Defeat and Death 149 

CHAPTER XIX.— 1756-1763. 
Indian Atrocities — Fall of Fort Duquesne — Washington retires to Mount 
Vernon • 158 

CHAPTER XX.— 1765-1770. 
Patrick Henry — Richard Henry Lee — Richard Bland and Edmund Pen- 
dleton — The Stamp Act resisted — Thomas Jefferson 162 

CHAPTER XXL— 1774. 
Lord Botetourt made Governor of Virginia — He dies and Lord Dunmore 
succeeds him — His Difficulties with the Assembly — Indian Troubles — 
Battle of Point Pleasant — Logan — Meeting of the Virginia Conven- 
tion in St. John's Church, Richmond 172 

CHAPTER XXII.— 1775. 
Governor Dunmore's Treachery — The Powder at Williamsburg — The 
Revolution begun — Battle of Hampton — Attack on Jamestown — The 
Tories » 181 

CHAPTER XXIII.— 1775 {Continued). 
Dunmore incites the Indians to the Massacre of the Whites — Battle of 
Great Bridge — Norfolk burned — Gwynn's Island 190 



CONTENTS. 11 

CHAPTER XXIV.— 1776. page 
The General Convention meets at Williamsburg— Declaration of Rights- 
Declaration of Independence — Patrick Henry chosen Governor— The 
Sea! of Virginia — Religious Freedom declared— The Law of Primo- 
geniture 201 

CHAPTER XXV.— 1776-1781. 
Troubles in the State — Fears of a Dictator — La Fayette and De Kalb ar- 
rive — Thomas JeflFerson appointed Governor — British Troops enter 
Hampton Roads— Defeat of General Gates in North Carolina— Con- 
vention Troops in Albemarle 210 

CHAPTER XXVI.— 1781 {Continued). 
Revolutionary War transferred to Virginia— Richmond abandoned— The 
Traitor Arnold — Baron Steuben and George Rogers Clarke — Death of 
De Kalb— Cornwallis marches towards Petersburg— Colonel Tarleton's 
Raid 217 

CHAPTER XXVII.— 1781 {Continued). 
Legislature at Charlottesville escapes from Tarleton—Monticello— Out- 
rages of the British Army — Cornwallis retreats to Chesapeake Bay — He 
fortifies Yorktown— Siege of Yorktown— Surrender of Cornwallis— 
Virginia Heroes 226 

CHAPTER XXVIIL— 1781-1800. 
** Crazy Rumsey"— Washington at Mount Vernon— Convention at Phila- 
delphia — Virginia Convention meets to discuss the New Constitution- 
Virginia joins the Federal Union— Washington elected President- 
Kentucky admitted into the Union— Federalists and Republicans- 
Alien and Sedition Laws—'' Resolutions of '98"— Patrick Henry's Last 
Speech— John Randolph of Roanoke— Deaths of Patrick Henry and 
Washington 237 

CHAPTER XXIX.— 1800-1813. 
Callender's " Prospect before us"— Insurrection of Slaves— Burning of 
the Richmond Theatre— War of 1812 251 

CHAPTER XXX,— 1818-1859. 
Virginia the " Mother of Presidents"— University of Virginia— Death of 
Thomas JefiFerson- The Virginia Constitution and the Men who made 
it—Troubles between the States— John Brown's Raid . 259 



Introductory Letter 



269 



CHAPTER XXXL— 1861. 
Destruction of Government Property in Virginia— Richmond made the 
Capital of the Confederacy— Lee appointed Commander-in-Chief of 
the Troops in Virginia—" Stonewall Jackson"— Plan for the Invasion 
of Virginia— Counter-plans— Johnston— Beauregard— " Jeb Stuart" . 275 



12 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXXll.—\^&\ {Continued). page 

Manoeuvres of Johnston and Patterson — Johnston changes his Base — Line 
of Battle — Battle of Manassas — Flight of the Federal Army — Changes 
in the Army — Jackson's Farewell to his Brigade — Battles of Leesburg 
and the Alleghany 284 

CHAPTER XXXIIL— 1862. 
Situation of Confederate Forces — Expedition to Romney — Jackson re- 
signs — " On to Richmond" — Battle of Kernstown — Change of Base 
from Manassas to Richmond — Jackson in the Valley 291 

CHAPTER XXXIV.— 1862 {Contiuned). 
The Campaign of the Shenandoah Valley 29? 

CHAPTER XXXV.— 1862 {Continued). 
McCIellan at Yorktown — The " Virginia" — Yorktown evacuated — Battle 
of Williamsburg — The White House — Battle of Hanover Court-House 
—Battle of Seven Pines 306 

CHAPTER XXXVI.— 1862 {Continued). 
Battles before Richmond — McClellan's change of Base — Pope's Cam- 
paign 314 

CHAPTER XXXVII.— 1862 {Continued). 
The First Maryland Campaign — Battle of Fredericksburg 322 

CHAPTER XXXVIII.— 1863. 
Hooker supersedes Burnside — Battles of Chancellorsville and the Wil- 
derness — Jackson's Fall — Advance into Maryland and Pennsylvania — 
Meade supersedes Hooker — Battle of Gettysburg — Retreat of the Con- 
federates to the Rappahannock 330 

CHAPTER XXXIX.— 1864. 
Condition of the Confederate Army — Policy of the United States Gov- 
ernment — Grant appointed Commander-in-Chief — His Plan for taking 
Richmond — Breckenridge and Sigel in the Valley — The Lexington 
Boys — Campaigns of Hunter, Crook, and Averill — Second Battle of the 
Wilderness — Battle of Spottsylvania — Fight at Yellow Tavern — Death 
of J.'E. B. Stuart 338 

CHAPTER XL.— 1864-1865. 
Battle of North Anna — Siege of Richmond — Early's Expedition — Armies 
at Petersburg — Retreat of Confederates — The Surrender — Division of 
the State — Emancipation .* 353 

CHAPTER XLI.— 1865-1890. 
The Reconstruction Period — Military Government — Virginia Delegates 
admitted to Congress — Disasters in the State — Death of Lee — The State 
Debt— West Virginia 364 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



CHAPTEE I. 

/ 
1492-1585. 

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA-EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN AMERICA, 

Columbus. — The glory of having discovered America is 
justly due to Columbus. He, by his genius, conceived the 
idea of undiscovered countries beyond the seas. By his 
perseverance he succeeded in inducing King Ferdinand, of 
Spain, to fit out ships and place them under his command. 
By these he reached the West India Islands. Still, history 
is full of traditions which induce the belief that it had been 
visited by Europeans at least three hundred years before 
the voyage of Columbus. 

Traditions. — We read of Madoc, a Welsh prince, who, 
disgusted at hearing his two brothers disputing which 
should reign king upon the death of their father, fitted 
out a ship and set sail in search of adventures. After a 
considerable absence, he returned, and narrated that, sail- 
ing west, he had reached a great and fertile country, 
abounding in beautiful forests, navigable streams, lofty 
mountains, and clear lakes, and he convinced his people 
how worse than foolish it was for them to be quarrelling 
with and murdering one another for the possession of 
barren hills, when this fruitful country lay across the 
waters, within their reach and without inhabitants ; he 

2 13 



14 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

was eagerly listened to, and, fitting out ships, induced 
numbers of his countrymen to accompany him in this his 
second voyage. They were never more heard of; but it is 
not impossible that they reached America, founded their 
colony, and lost here all trace of civilization. 

Several other traditions lead to the belief that America 
was visited by adventurers of other nations ; but if any 
trace of them remained, it was only found by the first 
discoverers of America in the savage tribes who roamed 
through her forests and paddled their canoes upon her 
streams. Columbus first called them Indians because 
he believed that the land he discovered was a part of 
India. 

The Cabots. — The success of Christopher Columbus in 
his western voyage fired the ambition of all the nations of 
Europe. Henry VII., King of England, was one of the 
first of European sovereigns to follow in the track of the 
great discoverer ; he granted letters-patent* to John Cabot 
and his three sons " to set sail, discover countries, and take 
possession" for the Crown of England. They discovered 
the coast of Labrador, and thus, although Columbus opened 
the path to the New World, he onl}^ discovered the West 
India Islands ; and this English expedition had taken j^os- 
Bession of the mainland one year before the great pioneer, 
in his third voyage across the ocean, placed his foot upon 
it (1498). 

Raleigh's Expedition. — Nearly one hundred yeai-s 
were sufi^ered to pass away before the English took ad- 
vantage of their new possessions. In 1585, Sir Walter 
Raleigh, an accomplished nobleman, high in the favor of 
Elizabeth, Queen of England, after obtaining permission 
from her, fitted out two shij^s, which he placed under the 
command of Captains Amadas and Barlow. These, fol- 

* Letters-patent are papers from king or governor granting power to others. 



BISTORT OF VIRGINIA. 



15 



(owing the course of Columbus, reached the West India 
Islands, where they remained for a few days, when they 
re-embarked and proceeded on their journey. Directing 
their course northward, they were soon attracted by the 
delicious perfume of fruits and flowers which a kindly 
breeze wafted to them from the fragrant shore. 




THE ENGLISH RECEIVING INDIANS. 



They landed upon the coast of North Carolina not far 
from Cape Hatteras, where they took possession in the name 
of her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Charmed with 
the first appearance of the country, with its tall trees, green 
fields, and abundant grape-vines, they clambered to the top 
of the high cedars, in order to obtain a more extended 
view ; and, as they gazed with rapture over the exquisite 
landscape spread before them, thought that the world 
itself could scarce furnish a greater variety and abun- 
dance. 



It) HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Discharging their muskets to awaken the echoes, 
they were startled by tbe wild cries of frightened birds, 
which darkened the air with their numbers, while at tbe 
same time herds of deer bounded from the woods. Several 
days elapsed before they discovered any sign of inhabi- 
tants; this magnificent country seemed to be given up to 
the birds of the air and tbe beasts of the forest. This was 
not true, however, as on the third day a small canoe, in 
which were three men dressed in the skins of wild ani- 
mals, put out from the neighboring shore. They ap- 
proached and boarded the ship without any sign of fear, 
and one of them, who seemed to be the leader, acted as 
spokesman for the rest ; but here a serious difficulty arose ; 
for the speech, which was full of impressive gestures, and 
doubtless of eloquent language, was yet in a tongue of 
which not one word could be understood. The English, in 
this emergency, adopted a mode of communication which 
could not be misunderstood, and which, at the same 'time, 
served to convey to the natives a sense of their friendly 
relations towards them : they presented them w4th shirts 
and hats, wine and meat, and, after a visit of some length, 
the strange guests departed as they had come, but soon 
returned with the boat loaded with fish and game, which 
they presented to the Englishmen. 

Visit from the Natives.— The next day came divers 
boats with forty or fifty men, and among them Granga- 
nameo, the brother of Winginia, king of this great coun- 
try, which they called Wingandacoa. Leaving the boats 
at some distance, they came towards the Englishmen, 
and spreading a mat, Granganameo sat down, while his 
men stood around him. He showed no signs of fear, but 
seemed by his gestures to wish to tell them how friendly 
was his disposition towards them. The Englishmen pre- 
sented him with many toys, such as beads and pieces 
of tin, which he received with deliiz:ht. His men seemed 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 17 

to regard him with great respect, none of them speak- 
ing a word, except four who seemed of higher rank 
than the rest, and to whom alone he gave presents of the 
treasures which were bestowed upon him; these they re- 
ceived humbly, making signs that all things belonged to 
him. They made the Englishmen to understand that their 
great king Winginia had been wounded in a conflict with 
his mortal enemy, and was lying at his chief town, six 
days' journey from that place. 

Granganameo paid them many visits after this, bring- 
ing presents of deerskins and other things ; and after a few 
days he brought his wife and children. The former was of 
small stature, very pretty and bashful. She was dressed 
in a long coat of leather, with a band of white coral about 
her forehead, while strings of pearls as large as peas hung 
from her ears and reached nearly to her waist : she woi'e 
her long black hair hanging down on both sides, and the 
men wore theirs long on one side and shaven close on the 
other. 

The English remained some time in this place, trading 
with the natives, and obtaining from them, in return for 
the useless toys with which they presented them, many 
articles of value, such as pearls, dyes, and game of various 
kinds. They learned, too, a great deal about the soil of the 
country, which they found to be more prolific than any 
they had ever know'n, producing three croj^s of corn in one 
year. 

Roanoke Island. — One day Captain Barlow and seven 
of his men paid a visit to Granganameo, their new friend, 
who had his home on Eoanoke Island. As they approached 
the place, they saw before them a little village of nine or 
ten Indian houses, built of cedar, and fortified, after their 
manner, by sharp stakes or palisades driven into the ground. 
Seeing her visitors approaching, the wife of Granganameo, 
like a true hospitable Virginian matron, ran down to the 
h 2* 



18 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

shore, and received them with every sign of joy. She told 
them that her husband was away, and commanding her 
people to draw the boats lo shore, made them carry the 
guests on their backs to the houses, where she entertained 
them with great honor, setting meat and fruit before them, 
having their clothes washed, and in her simple natural way 
doing all she could to testify her delight at seeing them. 
In one of the houses she showed them her idol, about which 
she told wonderful things. Some of her men coming in 
with their bows and arrows, the Englishmen took their 
arms in their hands, fearing treachery, which their hostess 
perceiving, she caused the bows and arrows to be broken 
in pieces, and the owners of them beaten out of the house. 
The Englishmen returned to their encampment next day, 
much pleased with their visit, and during the whole of 
their stay in Wingandacoa continued on the most friendly 
terms with their Indian neighbors; while upon their re- 
turn to England they gave such glowing accounts of the 
country that Queen Elizabeth called it Virginia, in honor 
of herself, the virgin Queen of England. 

Settlement. — The same year Sir Eichard Grenville with 
a party of men made a settlement on Eoanoke Island, 
upon which Granganameo lived. They made several ex- 
peditions into the country, found new tribes of Indians, 
and met with many curious adventures. At one time they 
were nearly starved to death, but were saved by boiling 
two mastiff dogs with sassafras leaves, which they ate with 
great appetite. 

Some interesting facts were ascertained about the 
religion of the savages. They believed that there were a 
great many gods, but one greater than all the rest, who had 
existed from eternity, and who made all things. They wor- 
shipped the sun, moon, and stars as gods. They believed 
that the soul would live forever in happiness or in misery. 
The English tried to teach them about the true God and 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 19 

the Bible. The simple creatures listened to them with 
interest, and taking the Holy Bible iu their hands, kissed 
it reverently, held it to their breasts, and stroked their 
bodies over Avith it. Once, King Winginia being very sick, 
refused help from his own friends, and sent for the English 
to come and pray for him, that if he died he might live 
with their God in heaven. Soon after this a circumstance 
occurred which increased their fear and reverence for the 
Grod of the English. Great sickness prevailed in many 
of their settlements, the nature of which we are not told ; 
but it so happened that the disease was most fatal in those 
places which were inclined to be unfriendly to the English, 
from which the simple creatures inferred that the God of 
the English was espousing their cause, and that they were 
actually destroying their enemies by their prayers to this 
great Being; and thus all the surrounding tribes hastened 
to claim the friendship of this powerful people of an all- 
powerful God. 

The Colony destroyed. — But this desirable state of 
feeling was hot always to continue between the two nations. 
In one of their expeditions an Indian stole a silver cup from 
the English, which offence was punished by the burning of 
one of the Indian towns ; and this broke up the friendship 
between the two parties, and was the cause of the final 
destruction of the colony, which happened thus: 

Sir Richard Grenville having returned to England for 
supplies, the colony fell into confusion. Discouraged by 
their difficulties, and fearing that they had .been deserted 
by their commander, they determined to return home. 
This they did with the exception of fifty of their num- 
ber, who decided to wait for Sir Eichard Grenville, who, 
arriving soon after, found no trace of these men ; they 
had been destroyed by the Indians, whose enmity they 
had excited. 



20 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What period is embraced in this chapter? 

3. To whom is the glory due of having discovered America? 

3. Give the tradition of Madoc. 

4. Other traditions of voyagers to America. 

5. What effect did the success of Columbus have upon other nations of 

Europe ? 

6. What nation first took possession of the continent ? 

7. Give some account of the expedition of 1585. 

8. Where did they land ? 

9. Give some account of what they saw when they landed. 

10. Tell of the first interview with the natives. 

11. The second visit of Granganameo. 

12. His third visit with his wife. 

13. How did the English employ themselves? 

14. Relate the story of Captain Barlow's visit to Roanoke Island. 

15. Why was the country named Virginia? 

16. Who commanded the second party to Virginia, and where did they 

settle ? 

17. Give an account of the expedition into the country. 

18. Give some account of the religion of the savages. 

19. How did they receive the teachings of the English ? 

20. What circumstance increased their reverence for the God of the English ? 

21. What circumstance broke up the friendly feeling between the two 

parties? 

22. What occurred after Sir Richard Grenville's return to England? 



CHAPTER II. 
1606-1607. 

VIRGINIA THE MOTHER OF STATES— THE LONDON COMPANY SENDS 
CAPTAIN SMITH TO AMERICA— HIS EARLY LIFE— LANDING AND 
SETTLEMENT AT JAMESTOWN— WINGFIELD APPOINTED PRESI- 
DENT. 

Extent of Virginia. — I have now given you an account 
of the earliest settlements in that part of America which 
Queen Elizabeth named Virginia, and which extended 
from the southern part of North Carolina to Canada in 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 21 

length and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans in 
breadth. This was a great country, and the reason you 
often hear Virginia spoken of as the " Mother of States" 
is because she gave from herself the territory out of which 
were formed many of the States of the Union. The 
onl}^ distinction in those early days was, that all the country 
to the north of Chesapeake Bay was called North Vir- 
ginia, and that to the south was called South Virginia. 

The first settlements carved out of North Virginia 
were the New England States, which were settled by the 
Puritans. The next slice taken out was New York, which 
was seized by the Dutch, the first discoverers ; but it was 
afterwards given to the Duke of York, after whom it 
was named. Next came the divisions of New Jersey and 
Delaware, and the last we shall mention was Pennsylva- 
nia, which was settled'- by the Quakers under their Avise 
leader William Penn, in whose honor the State was named. 
Although it would be very interesting to be able to trace 
out the history of the whole of this country, yet the space 
allowed us will not permit it, and we must confine our- 
selves to that portion which through all these changes still 
retained the name of Virginia, and which was colonized 
by Captain John Smith and his companions in the year 
1607. 

Captain Smith, one of the bravest men that ever lived, 
has written a book in which he gives an account of his 
wonderful adventures. An Englishman by birth, he had, 
when quite young, a great desire to go to sea, and even 
sold his satchel, books, and all he had, intending secretly 
to carry out his design, but was prevented by his father's 
death. He afterwards travelled through most of the 
countries of Europe. Once while at sea, like a second 
Jonah, he was thrown overboard by the superstitious 
sailors, who imagined that he brought ill luck to their ves- 
sel ; he managed to reach a desert island, whence he was 



22 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 

rescued by a jjassing ship. He afterwards fought against 
the Turks, and with his own hand killed three of their 
officers. He was taken prisoner by them and sold as a 
slave ; a bashaw bought him and sent him as a present to 
his mistress, who fell in love with him and treated him 
very kindly, but Smith only thought how he could escape 
and return to his own country. 

The bashaw, who had command over the prisoners, 
was very cruel to them, and one day, when Smith was 
threshing wheat, this 'nuin coming to him, reviled and 
struck him, upon which Smith turned and beat out the 
brains of his persecutor with an instrument which he had 
in his hand, then throwing the body into the house, he 
locked the door, filled his sack with corn, and mounting 
the bashaw's horse, rode away, taking the direction 
towards Eussia, thus making hfs escape. After many 
more adventures he returned to his own country, where 
he was made a knight by the king, who also bestowed 
many other honors upon him ; but his restless spirit could 
not be content with a quiet life, and he determined to seek 
new adventures in the great country which had been dis- 
covered, and about which the whole world seemed to have 
gone mad. 

The London Company. — Certain merchants and rich 
men of London had permission from the king to settle a 
colony in the countrj^ called Virginia, and for this pur- 
pose obtained, for fifty miles along the sea-coast, a grant 
of land, which was to belong to them and their children. 
The company to whom this permission was given was 
called the London Company, and another party of men 
called the Plymouth Company had a similar privilege 
granted them. The London Company fitted out three 
small ships, and in them sent Captain John Smith, Bar- 
tholomew Gosnold, Edward Maria Wingfield, and many 
others to find out a suitable place for their settlement, and 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 23 

to take possession in the name of their king. The con- 
duet of the ships was trusted to Captain Newport, and 
the Eev. Mr. Hunt went as the chaplain of the company. 

They set sail from England about the middle of 
December, but were detained by contrary winds, within 
sight of the shore, for six weeks, in which time Captain 
Smith found he had rather an unruly crowd to deal with; 
each man imagined he could manage better than his fel- 
low, and they quarrelled with Captain Xewport because 
they did not get on faster, with Cp^ptain Smith for ever 
having started the expedition, and with poor Preacher 
Hunt for not pra^^ng hard enough against the winds, 
which were the cause of their detention. At length, 
however, Providence favored them, and they reached the 
West India Islands, where they remained for a few days, 
soothing their ruffled tempers and refreshing themselves 
after their tedious voyage with the delicious fruits and 
other productions of these charming islands. But they 
were too anxious to reach the end of their journey to be 
willing to stay even in so delightful a place very long, so, 
with renewed spirits, they embarked, bending their course 
northward towards the coast of North Carolina, where 
former attempts to colonize had been made. But again 
encountering storms, they found themselves on the track- 
less ocean, amid dangers they knew not how great, and 
again the murmurs arose loud and deep. 

Captain Newport, wearied with the diflSculties, deter- 
mined to turn the ships around and return to England ; 
but God willed it otherwise. A violent storm drove them 
in towards the shore, and they found themselves at the 
wide ei^urance of a great bay, with a cape at each extrem- 
ity, which they named Cape Henry and Cape Charles, 
after the two sons of their sovereign. Pursuing their 
course inward, they touched upon another point of land, 
at the mouth of what seemed to be a large river leading 



24 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

up into the country, and giving them the good hope that 
their wanderings were ended and that here they would 
find a desired haven. So they named the land Point 
Comfort, and proceeded on their way. 

About twenty miles farther on the country spread 
out before them in all its grandeur and richness, and 
the most despondent among them exulted at the pros- 
pect. The place where they next anchored was named 
Point Hope, and the river was called Jan.es, in honor 
of their king. Here they encountered some Indians, who 
seemed kindly disposed to them, told them that the 
name of the river which they had called James was 
Powhatan, that the greatest tribe in those parts was 
the tribe of the Powhatans, and the chief of this tribe 
was very powerful, had his home about one hundred and 
fifty miles above, on the same river, and that he too was 
called Powhatan. 

Jamestown. — Pursuing their course up the river, the 
English discovered a beautiful peninsula covered with tall 
trees, growing out of the luxuriant green sod ; here they 
determined to land, and after much consultation and dis- 
puting, here they planted their colony, calling the town 
James, as they had done the river, in honor of their king. 

Election. — They now proceeded to elect a president 
and council to govern them, and Edward Maria Wing- 
field was chosen. Captain Smith having fallen under the 
displeasure of the company, was not allowed to take any 
part in the government, and so in this time of difficulty 
and danger they lost the advice of the wisest man among 
them. 

They set to work at once to build a fort as a protec- 
tion against the savages. It was a busy scene. Some 
were cutting down trees, others digging holes in the 
ground, while the sound of the hammer and axe awak- 
ened echoes and startled the inhabitants of these old for- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



25 



ests with a new experience. Newport, Smith, and about 
twenty otliers were sent to discover the head of the river. 
Passing many small habitations, in six days they arrived 
at the dwelling of the great chief Powhatan, which con- 




JAMESTOWN. 



sisted of twelve houses, pleasantly situated upon a hillj 
before it were three beautiful islands, and around it the 
waving fields of corn. The city of Eichmond now stands 
just above the former dwelling of this Indian chief, and 
the place is still pointed out where his wigwam stood. 

Indian Attack. — Smith found that his boat could not 
proceed farther up the river, because of the falls, and 
he and his party were obliged to return to Jamestown, 
where they found everything in confusion. The colony 
had been attacked by the Indians, one boy killed, and 
seventeen men wounded. They had all been at work 
without their arms when the attack was made, and the 

r 3 



26 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

destruction would have been complete had it not been for 
the accidental discharge of a cross-bar shot from one cf 
the ships, which broke the bough of a tree, that fell in the 
midst of the savages and caused them to retire in haste. 

Captain Smith arrested. — The English at once pro- 
ceeded to fortify themselves as strongly as they could, so 
as to prevent further surprises. The Indians, however, 
were fully on the alert; and in spite of their care, the 
English were constantly annoyed by their enmity. All 
this time Captain Smith was in disgrace w^ith the colony. 
Many among them, envious of his reputation, pretended 
to think that he wished to murder the president and the 
council and make himself a king, and these reports gain- 
ing ground. President Wingfield seized him and committed 
him as a prisoner, and accused him to the London Com- 
pany who had sent him to Virginia. But Smith, strong 
in his innocence, brought his accusers to shame, and the 
cause being tried, Wingfield was compelled not onlj^ to re- 
lease him, but to pay him two hundred pounds as a recom- 
pense for wliat he had made him suffer. Smith received 
the money, but gave it to the general fund for the use of 
the colony. 

This was but the beginning of the trials Smith had 
to encounter, but he bore everything with a patience and 
dignity which overcame the spite of his enemies. Preacher 
Hunt also did what he could to establish peace, so a gen- 
eral reconciliation took place. Smith was admitted to 
the council, all parties received the communion, and the 
very next day the savages voluntarily desired peace, and 
Captain Newport returned to England, bearing encour- 
aging reports of the prosperity of the new settlement in 
Vircrinia. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 27 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. In what yeiir did these events take place? 

2. What was the original extent of Virginia ? 

3. Why is Virginia called the *' Mother of States" ? 

4. How were North and South Virginia divided? 

5. What divisions were afterwards made? 

6. With what particular portion of this country has our history to do? 

7. Give the story of Captain Smith's early life. 

8. How did he make his escape from the Turks ? 

9. AVhat privileges were granted to the London and Plymouth Companies? 

10. Who did the London Company send to Virginia? 

11. Give an account of the voyage until they landed at the AVest Indies. 
12 Give an account of the rest of the voyage. 

13. What circumstance prevented the return of Newport to England? 

14. What names did they bestow upon the four first points of land they 

reached ? 

15. What name did they give the river, and what account did the Indians 

give of the country ? 

16. Where did they land, and what name did they give to their first settle- 

ment ? 

17. AVhat were the first acts of the new colony? 

18. Give an account of Smith's expedition up the river. 

19. In what condition did they find the colony upon their return? 

20. How was Captain Smith treated by the colony ? 

21. How did he behave ? 

22. How did the difficulties end ? 



CHAPTEE III. 



1607. — Continued. 



COLONY REDUCED TO WANT-CAPTAIN SMITH COMMANDS AN EXPE- 
DITION IN SEARCH OF FOOD— ADVENTURES WITH THE INDIANS- 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INDIANS. 

President Wingfield.— From the peaceful ending of 
the last chapter you might suppose that the troubles of 
our colony were at an end, but this Avas far from being 
the case ; for not only had they to encounter the natural 



28 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

difficulties of a new settlenienc in the midst of treacherous 
enemies, but their jealousy of Smith led them to select as 
their president one opposed to him in every particular, 
and it was not long before they saw their mistake. Wing- 
field, thinking only of gain, lost no opportunity of stealing 
from the public stores to enrich himself, and when he had 
by this conduct made himself hated by all, tried to seize 
one of the ships and make his escape accompanied by one 
of his confederates ; but his design was discovered and pre- 
vented. Thus it hapi^ened that most of the responsibility 
of public affairs fell upon Captain Smith, who by his own 
example and encouraging words set them to work, some 
mowing, some planting corn, some building houses, he 
himself always taking the largest share of the work, and 
providing all the rest with comfortable dwellings before 
he built his own. In his intercourse with the savages he 
also showed his great wisdom, making himself acquainted 
with their dispositions, their manners, their customs; al- 
ways securing their friendship if possible, but if this failed, 
compelling them to fear and respect him by his superiority 
over them. 

Smith's Adventure. — Once, when the colony was 
greatly reduced by sickness, their provisions spent, and 
starvation staring them in the face. Smith, taking seven 
men with him, set out to seek help from one of the neigh- 
boring tribes. He proceeded down the river about twenty 
miles until he arrived at one of their towns, and told the 
Indians by signs when they could not understand his words, 
of his great need ; he was met by derision and contempt. 
The Indians now saw this much-feared enemy in their 
power, and exulted in the thought that the colony at 
Jamestown could no longer trouble them ; and in ridicule 
they offered him a handful of corn and a piece of bread in 
exchange for the muskets of his men, and even demanded 
their clothing. Smith, finding gentle measures of no avail, 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



29 



resolved to compel them to give him what help he needed ; 
so running his boat into the shore, he and his men fired 
into the crowd, whereat the Indians fled to the woods. 
The English made haste to take advantage of the situa- 
tion, and going from wigwam to wigwam, they saw heaps 




CAPTAIN SMITH DEMANDING HELP FROM THE INDIANS. 

of corn and other food, which Smith could scarcely restrain 
his hungry men from taking until he convinced them that 
the danger was not over, and that their first duty was to 
prepare for the return of the savages. 

The wisdom of their leader was revealed as the 
hideous war-whoop sounded, and they saw about seventy 
Indians approaching from the woods, dancing and singing, 
some painted black, some red, and some parti-colored. 
Their god Okee, who was hung with chains and pieces 
of copper, was before them. Well armed with bows, ar- 
rows, clubs, and shields, they charged down upon the Eng- 
lish with great shouting and cries ; but Smith and his men 
were fully prepared for them, and fired their well-loaded 

3* 



30 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 

muskets into the midst of them. Down fell their Okee, 
and numbers of the Indians also lay sprawling on the 
ground ; the rest of them fled to the woods, and soon one 
of their chiefs approached to beg for peace and to redeem 
their Okee. 

Smith told them that if six of their number would 
come unarmed and help him to load his boats with such 
provisions as he needed, that he would not only be their 
friend, but would restore their Okee, and give them 
beads, copper, and hatchets besides. They were very 
well content with this, and brought Smith venison, tur- 
keys, bread, and whatever else they had,' singing and 
dancing, and making signs of friendship until they de- 
parted. The part}^ returned to Jamestown in fine spirits 
at their success, and at sight of the abundant supplies of 
provisions with which they were laden the spirits of the 
colonists revived. Captain Smith made many other ex- 
peditions to procure food for the following winter, but 
what he provided with so much care the rest recklessly 
wasted. 

I will now try to give you some idea of the manners, 
customs, and religion of the North American Indians when 
the country was first settled by the English. 

The Indian Tribes. — The inhabitants were divided 
into tribes, which were generally named from the rivers 
upon which they dwelt. There were the Powhatans, the 
Chickahominies, the Potomacs, the Susquehannocks, and the 
Pamunkeys. The men were generally tall, straight, and 
well-formed, with skins browned more from exposure than 
nature, as the children were born white. They had straight 
black hair, which was worn long. The women filled the 
office of barbers, and with two shells grated the hair off. 
They were very strong and active, able to endure great ex- 
posure, sleeping by a fire in the open air in the most severe 
weather. Their dress was made of the skins of wild beasts, 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 31 

with the hair on for winter and without it for summer. 
Some wore long mantles embroidered with beads, and others 
had mantles of turkey feathers, which were very beauti- 
ful. The women had their limbs tattooed with pictures ot 
beasts and serpents. 

But the most curious fashion they had was in the 
matter of ear-ornaments. Both sexes had as manv as 
three holes bored in their ears, in which they hung chains, 
copper, and other ornaments; and, what was still more 
surprising, it was no uncommon thing for them to use 
small snakes and even rats as ear-jewels. Imagine a great 
Indian with a green and yellow snake crawling and flap- 
ping about his neck, and often with dreadful familiarity 
kissing his lips, or a dead rat tied through the ear by the 
tail ! , For head-dresses they wore the wings of birds, and 
some had even a whole hawk or other large bird stuifed, 
with its wings outspread, perched upon the top of the 
head ; others wore the hand of an enemy, dried. They 
painted themselves every variety of color, and he was 
considered most handsome who was most hideous to be- 
hold. 

Their houses were built of branches of trees tied to- 
gether, somewhat like a modern arbor, and covered with 
mats or bark. The women displayed great fondness for 
their children ; and to make them hardy and robust, as 
soon as they were born they began to wash them in the 
cold water of the rivers and springs, even in the most 
severe winter weather. They also used paint and oint- 
ments to tan their skins, so that in a year or two no 
weather could hurt them. The men spent their time in 
fishing, hunting, and fighting, and such manly exercises; 
but scorned work, which fell to the share of the women," 
who planted the crops, . prepared the food, made mats, 
baskets, and cooking utensils. Their boats were made of 
the long trunks of trees, hollowed out b}^ burning until 



32 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

they assumed the shape of troughs. They were long 
enough, sometimes, to hold thirty or forty men. 

Hunting Device. — I must tell you of a curious device 
they used in deer-hunting. This animal, you know, is so 
timid that it is very hard to get near enough to him for a 
successful shot, so the Indian hunter used to dress himself 
in the skin of the animal, and thus disguised go into the 
midst of the herd. Sometimes when he would be hunting 
out a good fat buck, worthy of his arrow, he would see 
the deer looking curiously towards him, as if they half 
suspected him of being a cheat, upon which he would lick 
himself, and by his cunning imitate the motions of the 
animal so completely as to deceive them entirely, and thus 
he would shoot many of them. 

Religion. — Xo people have ever yet been discovered 
without a religion. Some idea of one Supreme Being 
has descended from our father Adam through all the 
nations of the earth. The North American Indians 
worshipped the devil, whom they called Okee, and who- 
was represented by a hideous image dressed up in beads 
and copper, after a most fantastical fashion. The priests 
in their turn arrayed themselves as much as possible after 
the same pattern. I will tell you of their head-dresses. 
They collected a quantity of snake-, weasel-, and rat-skins, 
stuffed them into their natural shapes with moss, and they 
tied their tails together like a great tassel ; thi« was put 
upon the crown of the head with the skins dangling about 
the face, and the whole was finished by a great crown of 
feathers, sticking out of the place where the tails were 
fastened. Their religious exercises were chanted, the 
priests leading and the rest following after. 

They had great fear and admiration for their king ; 
his commands were instantly obeyed, and when he frowned 
they trembled with apprehension ; and no wonder, for he 
was very cruel in punishing such as offended him. He 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 33 

would have a man tied hand and foot, and thrown upon 
burning coals and broiled to death. He would have their 
heads laid upon stones, whilst his executioners beat out 
their brains with clubs. And when a notorious enemy or 
criminal was taken, he was tied to a tree, and the execu- 
tioner with mussel-shells cut oif his joints, one after the 
other, threw them into a great fire, then sliced the flesh 
from the bones of his head and face ; if life still remained 
in the quivering carcass, the body was ripped up, and then, 
with the tree to which it was tied, was burned to ashes. 

I could tell you many more things of great interest which 
Captain Smith found out about this strange people, but it 
would make my history too long, and so much remains of 
more importance to relate. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. In what year did the events recorded in this chapter take place? 

2. Did peace and good-will long continue iu the colony ? 

3. To what did they owe fresh troubles ? 

4. How did Smith act when the responsibility of affairs fell upon him^ 

5. Give an account of his expedition in search of food. 

6. How were the crew received on their return to Jamestown? 

7. How were the Indians divided and named? 

8. Describe their appearance and manners. 

9. Their peculiarities of dress, etc, 

10. How did the women treat their children ? 

11. Tell of the curious Indian device in deer-hunting. 

12. Give an account of their religion. 

13. How did their kings rule them? 



34 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



CHAPTEE ly. 
1607. 

THE WICKED CONDUCT OF WINGFI ELD-SMITH GOES IN SEARCH OF 
THE PACIFIC OCEAN-IS TAKEN PRISONER— IS CONDEMNED TO 
DEATH AND IS RESCUED BY POCAHONTAS. 

Discord in the Colony. — Much of Captain Smith's time 
was spent in making expeditions to secure provisions for 
the colony and to become better acquainted with this new 
country, at the open door of which they seemed to stand ; 
but it was unfortunate for the welfare of the colony that 
there was no one at Jamestown who could control the 
people in bis absence. The wretched President Wing- 
iield and his accomplice Kendall always took advantage 
of the confusion caused by his absence to do all the mis- 
chief tbey could, striving to regain their former position. 

Smith unexpectedly returning on one occasion, 
found that they had persuaded the sailors to load the 
only vessel which remained to the colony with every- 
thing of value they could lay their hands on, with the 
intention of returning to England with such as would 
join them, leaving the rest of the colony to starvation 
and the mercy of the savages. Captain Smith succeeded 
in preventing this, though lie had to. resort to arms before 
it could be done, and in the fight Kendall was killed. 

The winter now approaching, the rivers were cov- 
ered with swans, geese, ducks, and cranes. Fish, oysters, 
crabs, and clams were very plentiful, the forests furnished 
them w^th the fat flesh of wild animals, and they had 
good bread and abundant vegetables ; consequently a more 
contented state of feeling took possession of the colonists. 
Some cause for dissatisfaction, however, they must have, 
80 they began to quarrel again with Captain Smith. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 35 

A Mistaken Fancy. — So little did they know of the 
extent of this great country, that they imagined that by 
following the course of the Chickahominy Eiver they 
would reach the Pacific Ocean. If you will look at the 
map of the United States you will understand how great 
was their mistake, and what thousands of miles over high 
mountains, great rivers, and trackless forests they would 
have had to traverse before this goal could be reached. 

Smith's Expedition. — Captain Smith shared this opin- 
ion, and had made many expeditions for the purpose of 
discovering the source of the Chickahominy, but owing to 
the great difficulty of navigation he had failed ; and now 
the public voice grew loud against him because of his 
failure, and, fairly driven away from Jamestown by the 
clamor, he started in his little boat, with some Englishmen 
and Indians for his companions, determined not to return 
until he had succeeded in his undertaking. With much 
labor, by cutting down trees and clearing the channel, he 
advanced until his boat could go no farther, and leaving it 
in an open- bay, out of reach of the Indian arrows, he or- 
dered the men not to go on shore, and taking with him 
two Englishmen and two Indians, pursued his course up 
the river in a canoe. 

As soon as he left them, the men in the boat, disobey- 
ing his orders, rowed to shore, where they were surprised 
6y the Indians, and it was with difficulty that any of the 
party made their escape. One of their number, George 
Cassen, was captured, and put to death with the greatest 
cruelty. Learning from him where Smith had gone, they 
followed, and soon came upon the canoe with the two 
Englishmen sleeping beside it, Smith and the Indians 
having gone into the woods to get food. After killing the 
men, they pursued Smith, who soon found himself sur- 
rounded by two hundred savages thirsting for his blood. 

In this dreadful situation his presence of mind did 



36 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



not forsake him. Taking one of his Indian guides, he tied 
him in front of himself with his garters, as a protection, 
and shot over his shoulder at the savages, killing several 
of them ; he himself was wounded in the thigh. His 
hope was, by moving backward, to reach the boat, and so 
make his escape ; but having his eyes fixed upon the enemy, 
he came upon marshy ground, into which he sank up to 
his armpits, and almost expired with cold. Still the In- 




CAPTAIN SMITH TAKEN PKi.- 



dians were afraid to come near him until he threw away 
his arms; then they drew him out and led him to the 
fire where his two companions were lying dead. Here 
they chafed his benumbed limbs. He asked to be taken to 
their captain, when they led him to Opechankanough, king 
of Pamaunkce. 

Captain Smith knew that nothing but his wit now 
could save his life, so drawing from his pocket an ivory 



HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 37 

compass, such as is used on ships, he presented it to the 
king. The curious savages gathered around, and looked 
with wonder upon the needle vibrating before them, but 
which they could not touch on account of the glass which 
came between. Seeing them interested, his hopes revived, 
and parily by language and partly by signs, he told them 
of the roundness of the earth and of the variety of nations 
which inhabit it. He explained to them in simple lan- 
guage the course of the heavenly bodies, until they were 
filled with awe and admiration. What a teacher and what 
a school in this vast wilderness of the New World ! 

Notwithstanding his eloquence and its effects, an 
hour afterwards Smith was tied to a tree and surrounded 
by Indians with their arrows pointed at his heart. He 
gave up all for lost, and, committing his soul to God, pre- 
pared to meet death with unflinching courage ; but at this 
crisis Opechankanough held up the compass in his hand, 
and the Indians laid down their bows and arrows, untied 
him from the tree, and forming a procession, placed him 
in the midst, and so led him away. 

The order of their procession was thus : three men 
held him fast by each arm, and on each side were six in 
file, with their arrows pointed towards him. When they 
arrived at their town, which consisted of thirty or forty 
houses built of mats, women and children came out to 
stare at the white man, whereupon the Indians com- 
menced their war-dance, yelling and shrieking w^ith hid- 
eous triumph. At length they led Smith to a long house, 
where thirty tall Indians guarded him, and after a while 
they brought him bread and venison, as much as would 
have served for tw^enty men. At midnight they brought 
him meat again, and again the next morning, until, re- 
membering the stories he had read about cannibals, he 
concluded that they were only fattening him to eat him. 
This idea did not much increase his appetite. 

i 



38 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

After some days' captivity he was brought before 
the king, where he was told that they were about to de- 
stroy Jamestown, and he was promised his life, liberty, and 
lands if he would give them his assistance. In return he 
excited their fears by telling them of the dangers they 
would encounter from the great guns which belched out 
fire and smoke, and he offered to prove to them that what 
he said was true if they would send some of their men to 
Jamestown to take a mere piece of paper for him. They 
agreed, and he, tearing a leaf from a blank book he had 
with him, wrote upon it minute directions to the colonists 
what they should do to frighten the messengers, and also 
a list of articles they should send to him by them. He 
then told them, with all the manner of a prophet, exactly 
what would occur during their visit, and giving them the 
mysterious paper, they departed. Of course everything 
happened as he said, and they returning, told all these 
things to their wondering people, declaring that either he 
was a great prophet or the paper could speak. 

The Indian Conjurers. — They then led him with 
great ceremonies through all the Indian tribes living upon 
the rivers in that part of the country, to the king's habi- 
tation at Werowocomoco, on York River, where they called 
their conjurers and priests together to see what was the 
will of their Okee concerning him. They made a great 
fire in a long house, with a mat spread on each side of it, 
on one of wjjich they made him sit down. Presently in 
there came skipping a great fellow painted black, with a 
tassel of snakes and weasel-skins, and over it all a crown 
of feathers upon his head. He began to make a speech in 
a hideous voice with passionate gestures. Next he walked 
around the fire and sprinkled a circle of meal. Then in 
came three more of these monsters dancing and shouting, 
their eyes painted white ; next three more Avith their eyes 
painted red. After dancing around him for some time, 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



39 



and shouting until he was almost maddened, they then 
led him back to his prison. 

King Powhatan. — Three days they kept up these cere- 
monies, after which they brought him before their great 
king Powhatan. Smith found him seated before a fire, 
upon a seat like a bedstead ; he was covered with a rich 




CAPTAIN SMITH SAVLD BY POCAHONTAS. 



i-obe of skins, and on each side of him was a young girl 
about sixteen years of age. Along the sides of the house 
were rows of men, and behind them as many women, all 
with their heads and shoulders painted red, decked with 
feathers, and chains of white beads about their necks. 
When they saw him, the king and all the company gave 



40 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

a great shout ; then the Queen of Appamatox brought 
him water to wash his hands, and another queen brought 
a large bunch of feathers instead of a towel for him to 
dry them. Then they made a great feast for him, and 
after that held a long consultation about him. 

When this was over, two great stones were brought 
and placed before the king, and as many as could seized 
him, dragged him to them, and laid his head upon the 
stones. Again did he think his last hour had com^^ ahd 
closed his eyes to shut out the sight of the dreadful clubs 
that were raised above his head ready to beat out his 
brains; but a shriek aroused him, and opening his eyes, 
he saw the beautiful Pocahontas, the favorite daughter of 
King Powhatan, pleading with her father for his life, while 
the tears rolled down her cheeks. Finding that her father 
would not relent, she flew to Smith, laid her head upon 
his, and declared that she would give her life to save him. 
This conquered the stern old king, and he released the 
prisoner. Two days afterwards he allowed him to go 
back to Jamestown, upon condition that he would send 
him two ^reat guns and a grindstone. So once more 
Smith's life was miraculously saved. 

On his return he was received with great joy by; a 
part of the colony. As Wingfield and some others were 
again making preparations to run away with the vessel 
to England, Smith, at the hazard of his life, prevente(^ 
this, and in return Wingfield and his confederates trie^ 
to bring him to trial for the death of the two EnglishiTter: 
who were slain by the Indians ; but in this also they failed, 
and Smith at last succeeded in having them arrested and 
seni prisoners to England. Once more was quiet restored 
to the colony. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA 4^ 

QUESTIONS FOFv EXAMINATION. 

1. What is the date of the events detailed in this chapter? 

2. How did Smith spend his time, and what difficulties did he encountci c 

3. What curious .piistake did the English make aboTiz i;i8 eiceat 01 Vit 



ginia 



4. Tell of Smith's expedition up the Chickahominy. 
, 5. How were his men captured? 

6. Give an account of Smith''^ dreadful situation. 

7. How did he act so as to gaip *.he attention of the savage,.' 

8. What happened next? 

9. How was his life saved ? 

10. Tell the manner in which they cond acted the prisoner. 

11. What of biatrial? 

12. Give an account of the preparations for his n.\eoution. 

13. AVho saved his life, and how ? 

14. How was he received on his return to Jamestown? 



CHAPTEE y. 
1607. — Continued. 



NEWPORT ARRIVES FROM ENGLAND-TRADING WITH THE INDIANS 
-POWHATAN. 

A Visit to Powhatan. — Soon after the events narrated 
in the last chapter Captain IN'ewport arrived with new 
supplies. The colonists were overjoyed, and the sailors 
at once commenced to trade with the natives, obtaining 
for a few trinkets quantities of copper and other valu- 
ables. Captain Newport sent Powhatan some presents, 
which so pleased the royal savage that he begged for a 
visit from the " Great Father," as he called Newport. It 
was some time before Captain Smith could persuade Cap- 
tain Newport to trust himself among the savages, but 
Smith undertook with tw^enty well-armed men to en- 
counter the worst that could happen to them ; so, fitting 
up a small vessel, they started up the river. Landing 

4* 



42 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

near the dwelling of Powhatan, they were met by two or 
three hundred savages, who conducted them to the town. 

Here Powhatan received them with great shouts of 
joy. They found him sitting upon his bed of mats, with 
a pillow of leather beside him, embroidered after their 
manner with pearls and white beads. His royal robe was 
a great mantle of skins which covered him ; at his head 
and feet sat a handsome young woman, and on each side 
of his house were twenty more women, their heads and 
shoulders painted red, and with chains of white beads 
about their necks. In front of these were the chief men 
of the tribe, and behind them a guard of about one hun- 
dred people ; and as the Englishmen passed through this 
guard, proclamation was made that none, upon pain of 
death, should do them any harm. Then followed a long 
interview between Newport and Powhatan, in which each 
tried to outdo the other in professions of love and friend- 
ship. Next followed a great feast, dancing, singing, and 
all kinds of merriment. They were entertained that night 
at Powhatan's quarters. 

Three or four days passed in this manner, during all 
of which time Powhatan bore himself so proudly that all 
were compelled to admire the monarch who, though he 
had never been beyond the American forests, was yet 
every inch a king. Very cunning he proved himself, too, 
in trading with the English, though in this matter Captain 
Smith proved himself the better man of the two. 

Powhatan's Scheme. — As if scorning to trade as his 
subjects did, he said, " Captain Newport, it is not agree- 
able to my greatness in this peddling manner to trade for 
trifles, and I esteem you also a great chief, therefore lay 
me down all your commodities together ; what I like I will 
take, and will pay you what I think is their value/' Cap- 
tain Smith saw through his design at once, and told Cap- 
tain Newport that the cunning savage only wanted to 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



43 



cheat him, and get more for his commodities than they 
were worth. At first Captain Newport would not beheve 
this ; but when he found that Powhatan wanted to get as 
much for a bushel of corn as he had expected to give for 




POWHATAN TRADING FOR BLUE BEADS. 



a hogshead, he was very angry, and a quarrel would have 
ensued between the two if Captain Smith had not inter- 
posed by drawing out a string of blue beads, which, at- 
tracting the attention of Powhatan, diverted his thoughts 
in another direction. He at once eagerly bargained for 
the beads, but the more he wanted them the more un- 
willing Captain Smith seemed to be to let him have them. 
He told Powhatan that they were made of a very rare 



44 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

substance of the color of the sky, and could only be worn 
by the greatest kings in the world. This of course stimu- 
lated the desire of Powhatan for them, and it ended by 
the Indian king selling three hundred bushels of corn for 
a pound or two of blue beads ; and yet they parted good 
friends. 

They also made the same kind of a bargain with 
Opechankanough; obtaining from him for a few blue beads 
a quantity of valuable provisions. The party returned 
to Jamestown delighted with their success, which, how- 
ever, in the end, did not benefit them much; for as .they 
were storing away these new supplies the town caught 
fire, and, Joeing built of wood, almost the whole place, 
with the arms, clothes, bedding, and provisions of the 
inhabitants, was destroyed. Good Preacher Hunt lost 
his library and everything but the clothes he had on, 
yet no one ever heard him complain. And, to increase 
the aifliction of the colony, this accident occurred in the 
middle of winter, and a great deal of suffering ensued.' 

The Gold Fever. — If Captain Smith had been listened 
to, all hands would at once have set to work to rebuild 
the town ; but just at this time a fever seized the colony 
most fatal to its prosperity : it was the fever for gold, and 
pervaded all classes of men. In the bed of one of the 
streams near Jamestown, among the clay and sand, a 
shining substance had been discovered, which was pro- 
nounced by some, who pretended to have knowledge in 
these matters, to be gold. At once the farmer left his 
plough and the carpenter his tools, and all classes and 
ages of men hurried to possess themselves of the precious 
metal ; so that nothing was talked of but gold, nothing 
was hoped for but gold, no work was done but to dig 
gold, wash gold, refine gold, and load gold. The fields 
where their true wealth lay were neglected; their houses, 
the rebuilding of which was so necessary to their comfort. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 45 

lay in ruins; their provisions were scarcely enough to 
support life ; and still ihe mad fever went on. They even 
loaded a ship with the gilded earth, and putting it under 
the command of Captain Newport, who was also a victim 
to this wild delirium, they sent it home to England, where, 
being examined, it was found, much to their mortification, 
to be nothing but a worthless mineral. 

This disappointment, however, was the best thing 
that could have happened to the colonists, as they at once 
abandoned their wild search for gold and returned to their 
proper employments. And Smith, taking advantage of this 
favorable change, proceeded to rebuild the city and plant 
the crops; and soon all were busy and cheerful, cutting 
down trees, preparing the fields, planting corn, and build- 
ing houses. A vessel from England that had been thought 
to be lost, arrived with supplies, which relieved their im- 
mediate wants ; and, taught by the follies of the past, the 
future looked to them more hopeful. 

Powhatan's Treachery. — A difficulty with the Pow- 
hatans was the next thing whicli engaged their attention. 
While Captain Newport was at Jamestown, King Pow- 
hatan sent to him a present of twenty turkeys, with a 
request that he would send him twenty swords, which he, 
anxious to keep on friendly terms with him, did. After 
his departure, Powhatan sent Captain Smith twenty tur- 
keys, expecting a like return, but he found he had a dif- 
ferent person to deal with. Smith took no notice of the 
request, and Powhatan, indignant at the ill success of his 
scheme, ordered his men to beset the colonists and seize 
their arms wherever they could find them. This produced 
constant annoyance ; the pai-ties at work were continually 
interrupted ; but so much afraid were they of provoking 
the enmity of the Indians, that these injuries i-emained 
unpunished until, emboldened by this fact, they became 
more annoying than ever. 



46 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Smith's Reprisal. — It chanced, however, that Captain 
Smith became the object of some of their outrages, and, aa 
may be imagined, he was not one to take it meekl}^. He 
hunted them up and down the country, he terrified them 
with w^iipping and imprisonment, and kept in the prison 
of Jamestown seven savages as hostages for the good be- 
havior of the others ; they in return captured two English- 
men, and sent Smith word that they should be put to 
death at once if the Indians were not released. As an 
answer to this. Smith marched out against them, and in 
two hours so punished them for their insolence that they 
brought him his two men, and without any further con- 
ditions begged for peace. He forced them to confess that 
they had been sent by Powhatan to capture arms, which 
they were to use against the English themselves. But 
this the cunning monarch stoutly denied, and even sent 
his daughter Pocahontas to Jamestown with presents to 
Captain Smith, and earnest entreaties that he would ex- 
cuse the rashness of some of his chiefs, who without 
orders from him had perpetrated these outrages. Cap- 
tain Smith punished his captives as he thought fit, and de- 
livered them to Pocahontas, for whose sake alone, he said, 
he spared their lives and gave them their liberty. 

The wisdom of Captain Smith in this affair was plainly 
shown, as it brought the savages to such fear and obedi- 
ence that his very name was sufficient to control them, 
and instead of constant alarms and interruptions, all was 
now peace and quiet. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What happened next ? 

2. Tell of the visit to Powhatan. 

8. How did Powhatan try to cheat the English ? 

4. How did Captain Smith prove as cunning as he? 

5. Tell of the blue beads transaction. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 47 



6. What happened on their return to Jamestown 7 

7. What fever seized the colony ? 

8. What effect did it have on their prosperity ? 

9. How did it end? 

10. What next engaged their attention ? 

11. Did Smith submit to the will of Powhatan? 

12. What did Powhatan do? 

13. How did Smi'h revenge himself? 

14. How did the difficulty end? 

16. What effect did this have on the savages? 



CHAPTER YI. 
1608. 

SMITH' P EXPEDITION UP THE CHESAPEAKE BAY-QUELLS A MUTIITS 
-NEW DISCOVERIES AND ADVENTURES. 

A New Expedition. — Two years had now elapsed 

since the first settlement of the colony at Jamestown, 
and though Captain Smith had made many voyages for 
the purpose of learning the extent and resources of the 
country, yet but little had been really accomplished. You 
remember that I told you some chapters back that this 
colony was sent from England by the London Com- 
pany, and they were permitted to take possession of 
tjfty miles along the sea-coast and one hundred miles 
hack from the coast. This was a vast extent of country, 
but only a small .portion of it had yet been explored. So 
in June of the year 1608, the colony being in a condition 
of quiet and prosperity, Captain Smith determined to 
push nis discoveries along the sea-coast. For this pur- 
pose he fitted out a boat, and taking with him fourteen 
men, he started down the river towards the ocean. Again 
they touched at Point Hope and Point Comfort, and re- 



48 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

called the time when, storm-tossed and weary, they had 
here welcomed the prospect of rest. 

Touching at Cape Henry, they crossed the bay to 
the Eastern Shore, visited Smith's Isles, and then crossed 
over to Cape Charles. Here two fierce stout savages 
came to the landing, and holding long poles in their 
hands, boldly demanded who they were and what they 
wanted; but finding the English friendly in their answers, 
they too became very polite, and directed them to Acco- 
mack, the habitation of their king. They found him the 
handsomest and most polite savage whom they had yet 
encountered. These Indians sj^oke the language of the 
Powhatans, and as our colonists had become quite familiar 
with that, they had no difiiculty in conversing with them. 

S.nith and his Crew. — The king was quite eloquent 
in his description of the bays, isles, and rivers, and excited 
great expectations in the voyagers, so that they soon left 
their hospitable host and pursued their voyage. Many 
w©re the discoveries they made of islands, rivers, and 
fertile fields. Sometimes they were kindly received by 
the natives, at other times they had to fight their way on, 
and often they were reduced to great straits for want of 
provisions, when, of course, the crew blamed CajDtain Smith 
for bringing them upon the journey; but he bore it all 
with patient firmness which overcame their ill-temper. 
Once, when he could scarcely bear their murmurs, he 
Baid to them, " Gentlemen, do you not remember the 
history of Sir Eichard Grenville and his men? how when 
their provisions were nearly exhausted and he thought of 
returning, his brave men begged him to let them go for- 
ward, as they had two dogs, which, boiled with sassafras 
leaves, would richly feed them ? Then what a shame is it 
for you T^iio still have provisions left j^ou, to wish to force 
my return when we have not even yet heard of what we 
came out to seek ! You cannot say that. I have not shared 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



with you the worst of what is past; and I am content 
that in wliat is to come you give the worst part to myself. 
As for your fears that I will lose myself in these unknown 
waters, or be swallowed up in some stormy gust, abandon 




CAPTAIN SMITH REBUKING HIS CREW. 



such childish apprehensions, regain your old spirits ; for 
return I will not, if God please, until I have found that 
w^hich I came out to seek." 

In the Chesapeake. — Sickness, however, attacked them, 
and Captain Smith was obliged to return to Jamestown, 
where he dismissed his crew, took an entirely new^ set of 
men, and returned to push his discoveries in Chesapeake 
Bay. Numerous were the adventures of this party, and 
great the dangers from which they escaped. They pur- 
sued their course up to the head of Chesapeake Bay and 
into the various rivers, and made the acquaintance and 
c d ^'> 



50 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

secured the friendship of the numerous tribes of Indians, 
who promised to plant corn for the settlement, in return 
for which the English were to give them hatchets, beads, 
and other things which they much desired. 

The Indians of the Chesapeake. — The two most 
powerful tribes with whom they met deserve mention. 
They were the Massavvomeks and the Susquehannas. The 
first w^ere said to have come ft'om great waters far to the 
north, which are now supposed to be the lakes of Canada; 
they were at war with all the other Indian tribes, and 
none were able to stand against them except the Susque- 
hannas, who had their home upon the river which now 
bears their name. The latter were a giant people. Cap- 
tain Smith describes one of their chiefs as \QYy great in 
size, measuring three-quarters of a yard around the calf 
of his leg, and the rest of the body in the same propor- 
tion. He was dressed in the skins of bears and wolves, 
with a bear's head upon his breast, its ears for shoulder 
ornaments, and its paws hanging down from the elbow. 
He wore a wolf's skin at his back for a quiver, and a 
wolf's head hanging to a chain for a jewel. But notwith- 
standing their savage appearance the Susquehannas are 
described as an honest, simple people, so impressed with 
the greatness of the English that they could scarce be 
kept from worshipping them as gods. 

Return to Jamestown. — These voj^ages and discov- 
eries occupied Captain Smith from June until September, 
during which time lie travelled three thousand miles in 
an open boat. When he returned to Jamestow^n he found 
the colony much reduced by sickness and the bad manage- 
ment of Captain Eatcliife, who had occupied all the time 
of Smith's absence in building himself a palace, instead 
of attending to the wants of the suffering people. 

Smith elected President. — And now, in sj^ite of their 
jealousies. Captain Smith's superiority was acknowledged. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 51 

as the Council met two days after his lono «^oyage and 
elected him president of the colony. He at once com- 
menced the most vigorous measures, stopped the work 
upon Eatcliffe Palace as useless, repaired the church and 
storehouses, built a new fort, and placed the whole settle- 
ment in better condition than it had ever been before. 
Soon after Captain Newport arrived with supplies ; he 
told Captain Smith that he had orders not to return until 
he could bring back a lump of gold and had discovered' 
the passage to the Pacific Ocean, which they still imagined 
lay only a short distance from them. Captain Smith's 
travels into the country, however, had convinced him that 
this was a mistake, and he told Captain Newport that the 
fine ship he had brought would never take them to the 
sea until they had carried her across high mountains and 
forests more extensive than they could guess; and as to 
the lump of gold, he besought Captain Newport not again 
to excite the fever which had been so nearly ruinous to the 
existence of the colony. 

Captain Newport's Instructions. — Captain Newport 
insisted that his orders were positive, and he said besides, 
that he had information upon which he could rely, that the 
country of the Monnachins, who were the nearest neighbors 
and great enemies of the Powhatans, would furnish them 
with an abundance of the precious metal. He told Smith 
that with the view of obtaining the help of the Powhatans 
in this matter, he had brought with him many costly pres- 
ents for Powhatan, among other things a king's crown, a 
scarlet cloak, bed and bedstead, a basin and ewer, and 
other furniture; and he thought that if they could get 
Powhatan to come to Jamestown for the purpose of re- 
ceiving these presents, they could so flatter him with the 
grand ceremony of crowning him king that he would .be 
willing to go with them against the Monnachins. Again 
Captain Smith remonstrated ; he said that it was a great 



52 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

mistake to give all these ricn presents to the Indians, that 
fhey were now quite as well satisfi.-^d with a few sti ings of 
blue beads as they would be with ah the jewels of England ; 
but if they were taught the use of these additional luxuries, 
they would learn to value themselves and their commodi- 
tiies at a much higher rate, and so be harder and more ex- 
pensive to deal with in the future. But his wise counsel 
was unheeded ; Captain Newport would have his own way, 
and after further consultation Captain Smith agreed to go 
to Powhatan and invite him to Jamestown. 

The account of this conference I will reserve for 
the next chapter, and I will conclude this by telling you 
of the crew Captain Newport brought with him. There 
came with him the first English women who had ever 
visited Jamestown, Mrs. Forest and her maid Anne Bur- 
ras ; he brought also among his crew two brave soldiers, 
Captains Waldo and AVinne, whose cheerful spirits and 
v/illing hands greatly aided the colonists in their work. 

Smith and the Swearers. — Captain Smith tells an 
amusing incident of the first attempt of some of the 
gentlemen to go to work in the American forests. He 
had taken a party of them about five miles below James- 
town to cut down trees, himself as usual doing the hard- 
est work. Eight merrily they performed the task with 
laughter and singing, rejoicing in the thunder of the great 
trees as they measured their length upon the ground. 
But soon the tender hands of the new-comers began to 
blister from the unusual tax upon them, and with about 
every third blow of the axe a loud oath would come. To 
stop this. Captain Smith ordered that every oath should 
be set down, and that when the day's work was over 
each perpetrator of such sin should have a can of cold 
water poured down his sleeve, which so' washed the wick- 
edness out of them that soon not an oath a week was 
heard. 



HiSTORv OF Virginia. 53 

QUESTIONS i^^OR EXAMIIS ATION. 

1. What is the date of the events narrated in this chapter? 

2. What extent of country had been granted to the London Company ? 

3. For what purpose did Captain Smith start on his voyage, and what of 

his crew ? 

4. At what points did they touch, and what Indians did they first en- 

counter? 

5. Describe them. 

6. ^hat discoveries did they make, and how were they received by the 

natives ? 
l\ What diflBculties did Captain Smith have to encounter? 

8. Tell the story of his remonstrance with his crew. 

9. Why were they obliged to return to Jamestown ? 
10. Did Captain Smith make a second start? 

11» What powerful tribes did they meet, and from what portion of the 
country did they come ? 

12. Describe the giant chief of the Susquehannas, and how did they receive 

the English? 

13. How long did these voyages and discoveries occupy Captain Smith, 

and how far did he travel ? 

14. What condition of things did he find at Jamestown on his return? 

15. How was his superiority acknowledged ? 

16. What were his first steps? 

17. What was Captain Newport's course upon his arrival? 

18. What presents had he brought for Powhatan ? 

19. What remonstrance did Smith make, and was he listened to? 

20. Give some account of the crew Newport brought out with him. 

21. How did Smith cure profanity in his laborers? 



CHAPTEE YIL 
1608. — Continued. 

WHAT NEWPORT BROUGHT FROM ENGLAND— CORONATION OF POW- 
HATAN—POCAHONTAS AGAIN SAVES CAPTAIN SMITH. 

A Visit to Powhatan. — According to the agreement 
between Smith and Newport related in the last chapter, 
the former, taking with him Waldo and three others of 

5* 



54 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

the new-comers, started out for the residence of Pow« 
hatan. When they reached there they found that he 
was thirty miles away, and had to be sent for; and the 
English waited for him in a green field near by. Here 
they made a fire and seated themselves on a mat before 
it. Suddenly they were startled by a hideous souud from 
a neighboring woods. Seizing their arms, they cauglj 
one or two old men who were standing by and held them 
as hostages, thinking that Powhatan and all his force 
were coming to surprise them. Then came the beautiful 
Pocahontas from the woods, and delivering herself into 
the hands of Captain Smith, told him that he might kill 
her if any harm happened to their party; that she only 
intended some entertainment for them until the arrival of 
her father. Thus reassured, they waited the next event. 

An Indian Entertainment. — Presently thirty young 
women, all fantastically painted in different colors, and 
with bucks' horns on their heads, came singing and dan- 
cing out of the Avoods. One had an otter-skin hanging 
from her girdle, another a quiver of arrows at her back 
and a bow and arrow in her hand, another carried a 
sword, and another a club; each bore a different burden. 
These rushing from among the trees with most, unmusical 
shouts and cries, formed themselves in a ring around the 
fire, \N here they danced and sung for about an hour ; they 
then conducted the Englishmen to a house where a feast 
was prepared for them, consisting of all the savage dainties 
that could be obtained, after which, by the light of fire- 
brands, with singing and dancing, they conducted Smith 
and his men to their lodgings. 

The next day came Powhatan, and Smith delivered 
his message, telling him that his " Father Newport" had 
arrived, and brought him from his brother, the King of 
England, rich presents, which he begged he would come 
to Jamestown to receive, and afterwards the English 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



55 



would go with him and give him his revenge upon the 
Monnachins. The proud savage replied, " If your king 
has sent me presents, I also am a king, and this is my 
land : eisnt days I will stay here to receive them ; your 
%ther ia to come to me, not I to him, nor yet to your 
fort ; neither will I bite at such a bait. As for the Mon- 
nachins, I can avenge my own injuries. And as for any 
account you may have from my people of waters beyond 
these mountains, it is false." He then commenced draw- 
ing upon the ground plots of the country as he believed 
it to be. Smith returned to Jnmestown with this answer. 
The Crowning of Powhatan.— Captain Newport, 




CORONATION OK I'UWHAT^' 



ever more ready to obey the savages than to compel 
their obedience to him, sent the presents tc Pownaian, 



56 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

and the next day was fixed for the coronation. After 
much trouble they induced Powhatan to put on the fine 
clothes and the scarlet cloak, but when the time came for 
bim to kneel and put the crown on his head, he positively 
refused. In vain they told him until they were tired that 
the crown made him a king. He said he was already a 
king, and that it was unkingly to bend his knee ; at 
length, however, hy leaning hard on his shoulder, they 
made him stoop a little, and three men, having the crown 
in their hands, placed it upon his head. Then, at a given 
signal, came such a volley of shot from the boats that the 
new-made king in his crown started up with fear, thinking 
be was about to be attacked. He soon saw his mistake, 
and to cover his embarrassment turned to Captain New- 
port, and with the proud manner of a sovereign to a 
subject, presented him with his old mantle and shoes. 

Return to Jamestown. — Newport tried hard to per- 
suade him to go with them against the Monnachins, but 
he refused either to go or to lend them men or guides for 
the purpose. As a return for the handsome gifts which 
had been sent him, he then presented Newport with ses^en 
or eight bushels of wheat ears, and with these the disap- 
pointed party returned to Jamestown, inwardly acknowl- 
edging the wisdom of Captain Smith, who had given his 
advice against the plan. Captain Newport still insisted 
upon the expedition against the Monnachins, and taking 
with them a hundred and twenty men, among whom 
was a refiner of precious metals, they started. They 
found the Monnachins a quiet and peaceable people, with 
whom they had no difficulty. They also found some 
earth which their refiner said contained small quantities 
of silver, but not enough to reward them for their trouble; 
nor would theMonnachins trade with them, pretending to 
believe that there were ships in the bay which would de- 
stroy them if they came to Jame&town : and so effectually 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 57 

had they hidden their corn in the woods that the English 
could not find it. So the expedition returned to James- 
town sick with the disappointment of their gilded hopes, 
as Captain Smith had foretold. 

First Marriage. — This same year Anne Burras, the 
maid of 31rs. Forest, who had come over in the last 
vessel under Newport, was married to John Laydon, one 
of the colonists; this was the first English marriage in 
Virginia. 

Powhatan's Treachery. — I will now tell you how the 
life of Captain Smith was once more saved by the beau- 
tiful Pocahontas. It happened in the month of December. 
Powhatan was then staying at his favorite residence, \Yero- 
wocomoco, which was situated on the York Eiver, not very 
far from Jamestown, and was the scene of Captain Smith's 
former miraculous escape from death through the love of 
Pocahontas. Powhatan sent a message to Smith, request- 
ing him to send some men to build him a house, and to 
send him besides a grindstone, fifty swords, some guns, a 
cock and a hen ; and if this request was complied with, he 
would have his ship loaded with corn. Captain Smith was 
not deceived by the promises of the Indian chief, but after 
their late ill-success corn was most important to the colony ; 
so he sent two Dutchmen and three Englishmen to build the 
house, and himself fitting out three vessels with forty-one 
men, made his way by water to the dwelling of the wily 
chief. 

Stopping with some friendly tribes, he was warned 
that Powhatan intended his destruction. Thus warned, 
he proceeded on his journey, and on the 12th of Janu- 
ary reached Werowocomoco, where he found the river 
frozen half a mile from the shore. Captain Smith set 
the example of breaking the ice, and, wading up to their 
armpits, they landed, took possession of the first wigwams 
they, saw and sent to Powhatan for provisions. He com- 



58 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

plied, and the next day visited them. Then commenced 
a rare war of wits between Captain Smith and the Indian 
king, each trying which could be the more cunning. Pow- 
hatan first said that he had no corn ; whereupon Smith re- 
minded him of the promises made through the messengers 
he had sent to Jamestown. At this Powhatan laughed, 
and said he but joked, and asked to see their commodities. 
They were displayed, and then the wily king proceeded to 
ask the most exorbitant prices for his corn ; but Captain 
Smith would not allow himself to be cheated, and would 
make none but fair bargains. Powhatan next tried what 
great professions of friendship could do ; he reminded Smith 
of his past favors, and reproached him for coming to him 
with arms in his hands as if he were an enemy, which he 
said so frightened his men that they would not bring their 
corn to sell. He proposed that they should send their arms 
aw^ay to the boat and show themselves to the people with- 
out them, and then they could trade freely. But Captain 
Smith was not to be deceived by such talk, and refused to 
give up their arms or to sell them, letting the savage know 
that he had no confidence in his professions of friendship, 
and that he understood that he wanted to catch them 
without their arms, so that he might destroy them. 

Captain Smith, wearied wnth the length of the debate, 
and seeing that Powhatan only trifled with him, attempted 
to capture him and so force him to keep his promises, but 
the chief was too quick for him and made his escape. 
Presently the house where the English were was beset by 
savages. Captain Smith with one man rushed out among 
them, pistol, sword, and target in hand, and such was their 
fear of him that as soon as they saw him they went tum- 
bling one over the other, only too glad to escape unhurt. 
Soon afterwards Powhatan sent one of his orators to them, 
who thus spoke : " Captain Smith, our chief, fearing your 
guns, has fled ; he only sent some of njj men to guard his 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 59 

corn, which might be stolen without your knowledge. Not 
withstanding your suspicions, Powhatan is your friend, 
and will ever continue so. As the ice has now melted, 
he would have you send away your corn ; and if you wish 
his company, send away your guns, which so frighten his 
people." But Caj)tain Smith, holding on to his arms, got 
the corn and loaded his ships. 

Pocahontas gives Warning. — That night Powhatan 
and the wicked Dutchmen who were buildinar his house 
laid a plan to take the lives of Captain Smith and his men. 
But God willed it otherwise. Through the darkness of 
that night came Pocahontas, ever the guardian angel of 
the colony, and revealed to Captain Smith the plot. She 
told him that a great feast would presently be sent him 
from her father, and while they were engaged in eating it 
they were to be surrounded and killed. He in gratitude 
offered to repay her with such things as she valued most, 
but with the tears running down her sorrowful cheeks she 
refused them, saying that she dared not be found with any 
such things, as her father would find out what she had 
done and would kill her, so weeping bitterly she departed. 
Presently it happened as she had said ; ten stout Indians 
came laden with venison, turkeys, and other delicacies, and 
they were followed by more, and still again by more ; but 
the Englishmen remained on their guard with arms in their 
hands during the whole night, and Powhatan never knew 
that his plot was betrayed. The next day they set sail 
for Jamestown, leaving the Dutchmen at work upon the 
house of Powhatan, the stout stone chimney of which 
still remains to mark the spot where this grand old In- 
dian chief held his savage court, and where his beautiful 
daughter Pocahontas more than once endangered her own 
life to protect that of Captain Smith. 



60 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What is the date of the events recorded in this chapter? 

2. What was Captain Smith's next enterprise ? 

3. What happened upon their arrival at the residence of Powhatan ? 

4. Give an account of the entertainment provided by Pocahontas. 

5. How did Powhatan receive the news Smith brought him? 

6. What did Newport do? 

7. Describe the coronation of Powhatan, 

8. What success did they meet with in their expedition into the country of 

the Monnachins? 

9. What event occurred this same year ? 

10. What message did Powhatan send Smith, and what was the name of hia 

residence ? 

11. Point it out on the map. 

12. Did Smith comply with the request of Powhatan? 

13. Relate the circumstances of their journey and reception. 

14. Relate the interview between Smith and Powhatan. 

15. What was Powhatan's object, and how did it succeed ? 

16. What did his orator say ? 

17. Did Smith get the corn? 

18. What plot was revealed to them? 

19. How was its succbss prevented ? 

20. Relate Smith's interview with Pocahontas. 

21. What happened afterwards ? 



CHAPTEE YIII. 
1609. 

THE TREACHEROUS DUTCHMEN— OPECHANKANOUGH— SMITH. BY HIS 
WISDOM AND BRAVERY, SAVES HIS CREW- ARRIVALS FROM 
ENGLAND-SMITH'S ACCIDENT AND RETURN TO ENGLAND. 

The Dutchmen. — Among the last crew of Captain 
Newport were a number of Dutchmen, who, being strong, 
able-bodied men and accustomed to labor, were expected 
to do a great deal of the hard work of the colony ; but 
instead of this they became a source of serious trouble, 
and were more dangerous enemies than the savages them- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 61 

selves. I told you in the last chapter how some of them, 
whom Captain Smith sent to Powhatan to build him a 
house, by plotting with this crafty savage would have 
destroyed Smith and his party but for the interposition 
of Pocahontas. After the English had set sail from 
Werowocomoco, Powhatan quickly despatched two of 
these Dutchmen across the country to Jamestown. 

These told Captain Winne, who was acting as presi- 
dent, that all was well with Smith's command, and that 
having no use for their old arms they had sent them back 
for new. Captain Winne, believing what they said, fur- 
nished the arms. They then excited the avarice of some 
of their countrymen by telling them the great promises 
Powhatan had made to them if they would join him in 
destroying the Englisli. They were eagerly listened to, 
and being expert thieves, they stole quantities of arms 
and ammunition, secretly conve^nng them by night to the 
woods, where the Indians were in waiting. In the morn- 
ing they returned to the city without exciting suspicion. 

Opechankanougii. — In the mean time, Smith and his 
crew, after cruising about the coast notwithstanding their 
late danger, came to Pamaunkee, where dwelt King Ope- 
chankanough, the brother of Powhatan, who had prom- 
ised them large supplies of corn for the colony. Leaving 
their boats. Smith, with fifteen of his men, went to the 
house of the king, who soon joined them with numbers 
of his men carrying scanty supplies of corn for which he 
asked exorbitant prices. Smith, in great indignation, said 
to him, " Opechankanough, the deceitfulness of your pro- 
fessions of love is made plain by your actions. You know 
our want, and we your plenty. We imist have supplies. 
You h^ve promised us corn, and kings should keep their 
promises. Here are our commodities; take what you 
want, and I myself will make the bargains with your 
people." The cunning chief pretended to be perfectly 

6 



62 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

satisfied, and gave them what they had there at their own 
price, promising to return the next day with a great deal 
more. So they parted, the Englishmen returning to their 
boats. 

Treachery.— The next day they found four or five 
men with great baskets of corn waiting for them, and 
Opechankanough, welcoming them with assumed cheer- 
fulness, proceeded to sell them great bargains in the 
corn. Presently in came one of Smith's men and told 
them that they were betrayed, that at least seven hun- 
dred savages surrounded the house in which they were. 
This created great disma}^ among Smith's party ; but he, 
smiling calmly at their fears, told them he would be well 
satisfied if he had no enemies he feared more than he did 
these savages ; he said that he was far more afraid of the 
unruly spirits at Jamestown who sent home false reports 
of him, bade them remember how often he had escaped 
from far greater peril than this which now threatened 
them, and promised them if they would stand by him, 
and trust to him, that, with the help of God, he would not 
only bring them out of this trouble, but would force the 
Indians to give them full supplies of what they needed. 
His words had the desired effect ; their courage returning, 
they promised him to act as he wished. 

Smith's Boldness. — Turning to Opechankanough, he 
told him that he plainly saw through the plot to murder 
him, and proposed that the two parties should adjourn to 
the open field and there settle their quarrel by fighting, and 
whichever conquered should remain masters of the coun- 
try. The cunning king, however, tried to pacify Captain 
Smith with soft words, telling him that no harm was in- 
tended, but that, on the contrary, he had provided- a rich 
present for him which waited his acceptance at the door. 
Glancing out, he saw baskets of corn guarded by about 
two hundred men, with their arrows upon their bent bows, 



BISTORT OF VIRGINIA. 



63 



and knew at once that their design was to get him out 
of the house, when they would instantly kill him. In a 
great rage at this deceit, Smith now ordered two of his 
men to guard the door, and, rushing alone into the midst 
of the king's guard, before he had time to make any resist- 




CAPTURE OF OPECHANKANOUGH. 



ance he seized Opechankanough by his long lock of hair, 
and put a pistol to his breast. The army of savages was 
instantly quelled; the guards threw down their arms, and 
the others were terror-stricken at the man who dared thus 
to deal with their king, whom Smith led into the midst of 
his people, utterly humbled at his defeat. 

The Indians pressed eagerly forward and laid their 
baskets of com at Smith's feet, while the king himself 
ordered his richest siores to be brought to his conqueror. 
Smith, still holding him by the hair of his head, thus 
spoke to them in their own language: "I see the great 



64 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

desire you Pamaunkees have to take my life, and you 
think because I have not punished your treachery before 
that you are safe from my revenge. The reason I have 
borne so long with your insolence is, that I made a vow 
before God to be your friend ; this vow, if I keep, God 
will keep me, and you cannot hurt me ; if I break it, he 
will destroy me. But you have broken our friendship bv 
your actions, and now if you shed one drop of my people's 
blood, or touch with even so much as a finger these beads 
and copper which lie here before you, I will destroy every 
Pamaunkee of your tribe ; not one shall escape. You 
promised to load my ship before I departed, and so you 
shall, or I will load her with your dead carcasses. But 
if you will come as friends, and bring your corn, I will 
then remember how once you saved my life when I was 
in your power. I will trade with you, and be your friend 
forever." 

A Second Attack. — Away went their bows and arrovvs, 
and all day long men, women, and children thronged about 
him, bringing their commodities in as great quantities as he 
could desire, until at last, worn out with the excitement of 
the day, Smith appointed two of his men to receive the pres- 
ents, while some others guarded Opechankanough, and he, 
throwing himself upon a mat, fell fast asleep. When the 
Indians saw their great enemy asleep, their fear of him 
diminished, and about fifty of their chosen warriors, with 
clubs or English swords in their hands, while hundreds of 
Indians pressed on behind them, bore swiftly down upon 
the house. The noise they made in their haste awoke 
Smith, who instantly seized his sword and stood ready to 
meet them. When they came to the entrance and saw 
him awake, and standing thus with his men around him, 
their courage deserted them, and they fell back one upon 
the other, until the house was clear of them. Opechanka- 
nough endeavored to make excuses for them, which Cap- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 65 

tain Smith received ; and the Indians loaded the vessels 
with their commodities, after which the English took 
their departure. 

Fate of the Dutch Traitors. — Captain Smith had 
many other adventures as strange as these which 1 have 
related. No wonder the simple Indians looked upon him 
as a superior being, and at length, through the fear they 
had of him, concluded a peace with him, and became sub- 
ject to the English. Before I go farther I must tell what 
became of the treacherous Dutchmen. One of their num- 
ber making his escape to England, by his false accounts 
of gold-mines and great riches to be found in Virginia, 
induced some noblemen to come hither, who, finding him 
but an impostor, left him to perish miserably. The others 
desiring to leave Powhatan and return to the English, that 
warrior showed the real contempt in which he held them. 
" You," he said, " who were so ready to betray Captain 
Smith to me, will as leadily betray me to Captain Smith ;" 
so he caused their brains to be beaten out with clubs. 

Smith returns. — After his success in trading with 
the Indians, Smith returned to Jamestown with abundant 
supjilies, whereat the delighted colonists prepared to sit 
down and enjoy in idleness what he had collected at so 
much risk and toil. But this he would by no means 
allow. He told them sternly that he who did not work, 
neither should he eat. He set each man his allotted task, 
making his own equal to the best of them, and he who did 
not fulfil this task was to be sent beyond the limits of the 
colony, and left to shift for himself 

The London Company. — This rule had the desired 
effect, and for a time all went well, and under his wise 
management would have continued to improve, had it not 
been for the want of wisdom in the London Company, 
who, becoming impatient at so small returns in money 
from the colony in Virginia, induced the King of England 



66 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

to allow them to fit out nine vessels, in which they sent 
five hundred men. These had orders to take possession 
of the colony, and to send back the men who had so long 
endured all the dangers of the new settlement. 

The confusion that followed may be imagined. 
These new arrivals were generally noblemen and gentle- 
men, unused to work and intent only on their own gain. 
Seeing this state of things, Captain Smith would willingly 
have surrendered all and returned to England; but it so 
happened that the vessel containing the letters of the 
king appointing the new president had been detained 
by a storm, and until it arrived he could not desert his 
post. So with his usual energy and patient firmness, 
notwithstanding the opposition he met with from those 
who hated him because of the very qualities which they 
should have admired, he set to work to plant new colonies, 
and provide as best he might against the evils with which 
this new amval threatened him. 

Smith wounded. — How he w^ould have succeeded is 
not known, for one day returning to Jamestown to quell 
a mutiny which had occurred there, while he was asleep 
in his boat a bag of powder accidentally exploded, burn- 
ing his thigh and a portion of his body in a pitiful man- 
ner; so great was the agony he endured that he leaped 
overboard, striving by the one element to subdue the 
other. With difficulty they rescued him and bore him 
to Jamestown, but as there was neither medicine nor 
doctor to cure his hurt, and as the ships were to return 
to England the next day, he determined to leave with 
them ; and so this colony, in the midst of its disorders 
and mutinies, lost the only man who was able by his 
wisdom and discretion to bring order out of the confusion 
which now reigned. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 67 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What date heads this chapter? 

2. Relate the plot of the Dutchmen. 

3. Where did Smith next go to obtain other corn? 

4. How was he received? 

6. What did Smith say to Opechankanough ? 

6. In what great peril did the English find themselves? 

7. How did Smith restore their courage? 

8. What did he say to the Indian chief? 

9. What deceitful answer did he receive, and how did he act? 

10. What was the effect of Opechankanough's capture? 

11. What did Smith tell them ? 

12. What did the Indians do ? 

13. How did they again attempt his life? 

14. Did the English succeed in their object, and how did the Indians regard 

Captain Smith? 

15. What became of the treacherous Dutchmen ? 

16. What happened upon Smith's return to Jamestown? 

17. How did the policy of the London Company interfere with the pros- 

perity of the colony ? 

18. What was the. result ? 

19. How did Smith act? 

20. What happened to him ? 

21. What was the effect of his departure upon the colony? 



CHAPTEE IX. 
1609-1614. 



ARRIVAL OF SIR THOMAS GATES— JAMESTOWN ABANDONED— THE 
MEETING WITH LORD DELAWARE— THE RETURN— CAPTURE OF 
POCAHONTAS, AND HER MARRIAGE AND DEATH. 

Murder of Colonists. — As may be imagined by my 
readers, the colony at Jamestown went rapidly to ruin 
after the departure of Captain Smith. The savages, who 
had been kept in awe by him, as soon as they learned that 
he had left revolted, and proceeded to murder all the Eng- 



68 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

lish they encountered ; and at last so intimidated the colo- 
nists that they seldom dared to go beyond the fortifica- 
tions at Jamestown. On one occasion Powhatan tempted 
a party of thirty men, under John Eatcliffe, to come to 
him for provisions ; he slew all of them except one boy, 
who was saved by Pocahontas, and who lived, protected 
by her, for many years among the Indians. 

Famine and Sickness. — Thus, through these disasters, 
were the unhappy colonists forced to acknowledge the 
great loss they had sustained in Captain Smith. Shut up 
within the small boundaries of the unhealthy city, afraid 
to go beyond either to cultivate their crops or to engage 
in those other employments which were conducive both to 
the health and wealth of the colony, subject to the terror 
of the savages without and to disorders and mismanage- 
ment within, it is no wonder that in less than six months 
after Captain Smith's departure, by sickness, starvation, 
and the tomahawk of the savage, the numbers of the 
colony were reduced from five hundred to sixty men^ 
women, and children ; and these poor wretched creatures 
were preserved for the most part by feeding on herbs, 
roots, acorns, and berries. One of their number, in 
writing of this dreadful time, says, " So great was our 
famine, that a savage we slew and buried, the poorer sort 
took him up again and ate him , and so did divers one 
another boiled and stewed with roots and herbs. One 
among the rest did kill his wife, powdered her, and had 
eaten part of her before it was known ; for which he 
was executed. Now whether she was better boiled or 
roasted I know not, but of such, a dish as a powdered 
wife I never heard." 

Rescue. — And all these evils came from their own 
course of idleness and mismanagement, as the country 
was fully able to afford them most ample support, both 
from the production of the field, game of the forest, and 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 69 

fish of the rivers. To add to their distress, they believed 
themselves abandoned by their friends in England, as no 
vessel had come from there for many months. At length, 
however, when they were reduced' to the greatest ex- 
tremities, Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers ar- 
rived with a hundred and fifty men. You can well 
imagine how the poor, starving, dying men crawled down 
to the shore to give them welcome, and how they begged^ 
with -the tears streaming over their cheeks, to be taken 
away from this wretched place, w4iere they had suffered 
80 much misery. . It was a sad welcome; and so greatly 
were the new-comers shocked at the condition of affairs, 
that they readily yielded to the entreaties of these unfor- 
tunate men, and determined to abandon Jamestown and 
return to England. 

Jamestown abandoned. — So the next day, after bury- 
ing the guns and ammunition at the gate of the fort, 
they all embarked. Some of the people were with diffi- 
culty prevented by Sir Thomas Gates from setting fire to 
the town. They fired a farewell volley, but not a tear 
was shed at leaving a place where they had endured so 
much. The boat started down the river, and the men 
crowded the decks to take a farewell look at the familiar 
places along its banks ; and a feeling of regret must have 
filled even their bosoms, that this beautiful country, with its 
great resources, should be given up to the savage ; nor did 
God, who overrules all things, intend that this should be, for 
before they had been many hours on the journey, they 
saw, coming up the river towards them, a long-boat with 
despatches from Lord D.elaware, who was not far behind, 
with three vessels and plenty of provisions to last the whole 
colony a year. This, changed the aspect of affairs, and Sir 
Thomas Gates, changing the course of his vessel, returned 
to Jamestown, reaching there the evening of the same day. 
Lord Delaware. — The third day after these events, 



70 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Lord Delaware, Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Somers, 
with all of their men, arrived, and the poor, sick, famished 
colonists were drawn up to meet him ; but when his lord- 
ship stepped on shore, before he would submit to their 




ARRIVAL OP SIR THOMAS GATES AT JAMESTOWN. 

greeting, he fell upon his knees and engaged in silent 
prayer. It was an impressive scene. Adjourning to the 
church, they listened to a sermon, in which the providence 
of God in all these matters was plainly shown to them. 
After this, Lord Delaware made a speech, which was 
eagerly listened to by the crowd. He traced the course 
of their disasters, and pointed out to them plainly how 
their own idleness and folly had been the cause of their 
ruin. He entreated them to avoid the errors of the past, 
or he, as their governor, would be forced to draw the 
sword of justice and cut off delinquents, however great 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 71 

the trial might be to himself, as he had rather shed his 
blood in their defence than punish one of them. 

New Regulations. — This speech was received with 
great applause, all seeing that in its stern kindness lay a 
hope for their future. Those who had been there longest 
knew the evils of misrule, and were willing to submit 
themselves to the authority of their new commander. 
Yigoi-ous measures were adopted. He appointed regular 
hours for work and recreation. Eeligious services w^ere 
held twice on Sunday and once in the week, at which all 
were required to attend. New treaties were made with 
the Indians, and Captain Argall was despatched with a 
vessel to the Bermudas to bring fresh provisions, but being 
forced back by a storm. Lord Delaware sent him up the 
Potomac Eiver to trade with the Indians ; here he found 
the young English boy whom Pocahontas had rescued, 
and through him succeeded in opening trade with the 
tribes of Indians on that river, who freighted his ship 
with all that he required. 

The next year Lord Delaware went up the James 
River as far as the Falls, near which Richmond now 
stands. Assaulted by the Indians, four of his men were 
killed, and soon after this he was taken very sick and 
forced to return to England, leaving Captain George 
Percy to act as governor until the arrival of Sir Thomas 
Dale, who had been appointed governor by the London 
Company. The new governor reached Jamestown in 
May, and found the colony fast falling back to their 
former condition of poverty, having relapsed into their 
idle habits since Lord Delaware's departure. He at once 
set them to work again, punishing w^ith great severity those 
who would not submit to him, for which ne was much 
hatedo 

In August of the next year Sir Tnomas crates ar- 
rived, with men and provisions. He buiit a town upon 



72 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

James Eiver. and called it Henricopolis ; it stood some 
miles below the present site of Richmond. Thus was 
the colony of Virginia firmly established, and with vig- 
orous management was increasing in prosperity. Their 
old enemy Powhatan continued to give them trouble, 
capturing men and arms wherever he could find them. 
Since the return of Captain Smith to England, Poca- 
hontas had never visited Jamestown, and seemed to have 
lost her interest in the colony. But in the winter of the 
year in which Henricopolis w^as built, an event occurred 
which again connects her with the history of Virginia. 

Captain Argall, while trading with a tribe of Indians 
upon the Potomac River, heard that Pocahontas was in 
the neighborhood, with an Indian chief named Japazaws, 
an old friend of Captain Smith, and determined to take 
advantage of this circumstance to compel Powhatan to 
conclude a treaty of peace- with the English. He sought 
out Jajoazaws, and told him of his desire to obtain posses- 
sion of Pocahontas, promising that she should be treated 
with respect, as his only object was to stop the bloodshed 
which was continually going on between the English and 
the Powhatans. He also promised Japazaws a copper 
kettle if he would assist him in his undertaking. 

Capture of Pocahontas. — Japazaws consented, and 
Pocahontas, w^ho believed herself unknown to this party 
of Englishmen, listened to the. wife of Japazaws as she 
told her how anxious she was to see an English ship, 
and how her husband would take her if Pocahontas would 
go with her. For some time she refused, and Japazaws' 
wife went to her husband and told him she could not per- 
suade her, whereupon Japazaws threatened to beat her if 
she did not succeed in the undertaking. At last Poca- 
hontas was persuaded to accompany them. They found 
a feast prepared for them in the cabin, during which 
Japazaws trod hard upon the foot of Captain Argall, to 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 73 

remind him that he had done his part and the copper 
kettle mus^ be forthcoming; so when the meal was over. 
Captain Argall induced Pocahontas to go into the gun- 
room while he held a conference wiih Japazaws; then 
sending for her, he told her she must go along with him, 
and she should never see Powhatan again until she had 
made a peace between the English and her tribe. Finding 
herself thus betrayed, the poor girl burst into bitter tears, 
and the treacherous old Indian and his wife howled melo- 
diously to convince her that they too were the victims of 
a stratagem. 

Captain Argall succeeded at length in reconciling Poca- 
nontas to her situation, by convincing her that her captiv- 
ity w^ould accomplish what nothing else had ever done, — a 
peace between the English and Indians. So Japazaws 
and his wife, receiving their copper kettle and other t03'S, 
returned home, and Pocahontas w^illingly accompanied 
Captain Argall to Jamestown. 

Argall sent word to Powhatan that he held his 
daughter as a hostage, and that he must ransom her with 
the prisoners he held and the guns and swords he had 
stolen. Great were the rage and grief of the old Indian 
chief when he heard this news; for he dearly loved his 
daughter, and he also loved the property of the English 
with which he must ransom her. Many were the prom- 
ises he made and broke in his endeavor to cheat his ene- 
mies into surrenderirfg her, but it was in vain. They 
knew liim too well to believe in mere promises; so Poca- 
hontas remained at Jamestown. 

Marriage of Pocahontas. — Now what cotild not be 
Drought about by foul means was accomplished by fair; 
for it happened that after Pocahontas had been two years 
at Jamestown, Master John Eolfe, an honest gentleman, 
fell in love with her, and she with him, so they determined 
m this natural way to unite the English and the Indiana 



74 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

The news of this intended marriage reaching Powhatan, 
he at once gave his consent, and sent his brother Opa- 
chisto, and two of his sons, to witness the marriage and 
^conclude a permanent peace with the English. 

Powhatan's Second Daughter. — A messenger after- 
wards went to Powhatan from Sir Thomas Dale, bearing 
with him two pieces of copper, five wooden combs, some 
beads and fish-hooks, and a pair of knives, all of which 
pleased him well. He was then told that Sir Thomas 
Dale-, hearing of the beauty of his second daughter, de- 
sired that she might be sent to Jamestown, that she 
also might marry an Englishman, and so bind the two 
nations more closely together. The old chief answered 
with gravity, "I am very much obliged to my brother 
tor his salute of love and peace, and for bis pledges 
thereof, which I will surely keep, inough they are not 
80 ample as what he has formerly sent me. But as for 
my daughter, 1 have sold her in a few days past to a 
great Werowance, three days' journey from me, for three 
bushels of rawrenoke.'* 

The English tried to persuade him to send back the 
fawrenoke and he should have far more than the price 
oi it in beads, copper, and hatchets ; but he answered that 
he loved his daughter better than his life, that though he 
had many children she was his fiavorite, and he could not 
live if she were taken from him ; that he did not consider 
h a brotherly part to desire to take away both of his chil- 
dren at once. He further assured them that he would 
keep peace with the English without this further pledge. 
He ended hie speech thus : " 1 am old, and would gladly 
end my days in peace ; if you offer me injury, my country 
is large enough for me to go from you ; this much I hope 
will satisfy my brother. Now, because you are weary and 
I am sleepy, we will end this.'* 

ThuB the old king refused a further allianct- witJD tha 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 75 



English, making it plain that he had submitted to the 
marriage of Pocahontas as a matter of necessity. 

Pocahontas in England.— The after-history of Poca- 
hontas is short, but of touching interest. Her husband, 
who was truly devoted to her, carefully instructed her in 
Christianity, and after a while she openly renounced the 
idolatry of her country and, confessing the faith of Christ, 
was baptized in the old church at Jamestown, receiving 
the name of Eebecca. Two years after her marriage she, 
with her husband, went to England, where she was much 
admired and sought after at the court of King James, and 
was particularly spoken of for the admirable dignity of 
her deportment, well befitting a king's daughter. She 
learned to speak the EngHsh language quite well, and had 
one child, Thomas Eolfe, who, after he became a man, 
visited Virginia and his mother's relatives. From him 
are descended many of the most prominent families of 
Virginia. 

Her Interview with Captain Smith.— It was while 
Pocahontas was at the court of King James that she 
again met Captain Smith, who gives us the only account 
we have of the interview. Upon seeing him she covered 
her face with her hands and did not speak a word. At 
length she said, "They did tell me always you were dead, 
and Powhatan did send to find out the truth, because your 
countrymen will lie much." She then added, " You call 
Powhatar 'Father,' being in his land and a stranger; and 
now, for the same reason, I will call you father." Smith 
remonstrated against this, telling her she was a king's 
daughter and must preserve her dignity; but she an- 
swered indignantly, "You showed no fear to come into 
my father's country, and to make him and all his people 
but me afraid, but you fear here in England for me to call 
you father. I tell you then I will and you shall call me 
child, and so I will be for ever and ever your country- 



76 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

woman." The life of this lovely young woman was a 
short one ; she died at Gravesend* in England, four years 
after her marriage, leaving to history the most beautiful 
picture of refinement and natural majesty of character, 
springing up in a wilderness, — a natural growth upon un- 
cultivated soil, a fair flower blooming alone among the 
sturdy oaks and pine-trees of her native forests. 

Virginia cannot too much honor her memory, since to 
lier more than once Virginia owed its existence. And so 
long as history records deeds dared and hardships en- 
dured by the first settlers of Jamestown, so long will 
Pocahontas be remembered as the guardian angel of the 
colony. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. How were the colonists forced to acknowledge the loss they had sus- 

tained in Captain Smith? 

2. To what condition was the colony reduced in six months ? 

3. Relate some incidents of the ''starving time." 

4. AVhat happened when they were reduce*! to their last extremity ? 

5. How was Sir Thomas Gates met on his arrival ? 

6. Relate the abandonment of Jamestown. 

7. What happened next? 

8. Give an account of Lord Delaware's arrival. 

9. How did he employ his first hours? 

10. What did he tell the people, and how was his speech received ? 

11. What measures did the new governor adopt? 

12. What happened the next year? 

13. What new town was built, and where ? 

14. What news did Captain Argall hear while trading with the Indians? 

15. Tell of his bargain with Japazaws. 

16. IIow did he obtain possession of Pocahontas? 

17. How did Powhatan receive the news of his daughter's capture? 

18. How was the union between the English and Indians accomplished? 

19. What is the subsequent history of Pocahontas? 
80. How should Virginians regard her memory? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 77 

CHAPTER X. 
1614-1622. 

DEATH OF POWHATAN-THE PRICE OF A WIFE-INDIAN MASSACRE- 
ENGLISH HISTORY AS CONNECTED WITH VIRGINIA-GOVERNOR 
YEARDLEY-HARVEY SENT TO ENGLAND-BERKELEY APPOINTED 
GOVERNOR. 

The Common Fund.— It had been a matter of neces- 
sity in the early days of the colony that there should be 
no separation of property; all worked for the common 
fund. Although, as I have said, this was necessary, yet 
was it the cause of innumerable evils; no man felt that 
he was w^orking for himself, but for everybody; and if 
one was disposed to be idle, it was easy enough to feign 
sickness, when he knew he would be supplied from the 
public fund. And this was the cause of the quarrels, the 
idleness, and the want of thrift which marked the history 
of the first colonists of Virginia. 

New Regulations. — So after the marriage of Poca- 
hontas had established a firm peace with the Indians, it 
was determined to remedy this evil. Accordingly, each 
one of the settlers was made the owner of three acres of 
ground which he called his plantation, upon which he was 
forced to subsist W'ith his family, and to pay into the pub- 
lic treasury a tax of two and a half barrels of corn. This 
had the effect that was desired ; each man felt that his 
labor was for himself and his family, and so w^e hear little 
more of improvidence. 

Death of Powhatan.— The year after the death of Po- 
cahontas, Powhatan died, and in him the English lost a 
friend, though not one upon whom much confidence could 
be placed, as he was only bound to them by ties of inter- 

7* 



78 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

est. He was succeeded by Opechankanough, one of the 
most treacherous and blood-thirsty of a treacherous and 
blood-thirsty people. For some years he continued his 
profession^ of kindness and good-will to the English, but 
there is no reason to believe that he ever cherished othei 
than the bitterest hatred towards them. Perhaps his 
enmity was due to a recollection of his humiliation, when 
Captain Smith led him by the hair of his head through 
the midst of his own people ; but however this may be, 
one thing is certain, that with professions of love upon 
his tongue he was bent upon their destruction. 

Slavery introduced. — One year after the death of 
Powhatan (1619) slavery was first introduced into Vir- 
ginia. The owner of an English vessel purchased twenty 
Africans from a Dutch man-of-war, thinking he was doing 
an act of kindness, as the poor creatures seemed to be suf- 
fering great misery, crowded together in the hold of the 
slave-ship. The Virginians had before this depended for 
laborers upon criminals, who were released from the 
prisons of England that they might act as servants for 
the colonists. The condition of the negroes was pitiable 
in the extreme ; and when they were brought to James- 
town 1 have no doubt the planters thought they were 
doing God service by taking the poor creatures, teaching 
them Christianity, and otherwise improving their condi- 
tion. They scarcely imagined that they were planting 
an institution which was to bring so much trouble and 
controversy into the Old Dominion and half the continep-; 
of North America. 

Wives imported. — The same year a vessel arrived 
from England bringing a very different kind of cargo 
from that of which we have been speaking, — namely, a 
number of young women of good character, to serve as 
wives for the colonists. In order to defray the expenses 
of the journ'^.y each man was obliged to purchase his 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 79 

wife for one hundred and twenty pounds of tobacco. 
Afterwards the price of a wife was much higher. 

Indian Treachery. — Three or four years passed away 
without any event of striking interest to the colony of 
Virginia. Population increased rapidly, and reports of 
the prosperity of the country reaching the Old World, 
numbers were induced to emigrate. But the growth of 
the young nation was destined to receive yet another 
check from Indian treachery. All this time the English 
and Indians had been living together as one nation, and so 
it might have continued but for the circumstances which I 
will now narrate. An Indian called Jack of the Feather, 
from his wearing a remarkable ornament of that kind on 
his head, treacherously murdered an Englishman named 
Morgan ; and Alorgan's sons, in their turn, killed him. 
This coming to the ears of Opechankanough, he deter- 
mined to make it the excuse for the entire destruction 
of the colony. He succeeded in drawing into his devilish 
plot all the tribes of Indians in the country around, and 
a day was fixed upon for the terrible outrage. 

The Massacre. — The plantations were now so scat- 
•ei-ed as to make the success of the plan comparatively 
easy, and the destruction of the colonists w^ould undoubt- 
edly have been complete but for the interposition of a 
converted -Indian, who disclosed the plot to a planter in 
whose employ he was. Upon hearing the news, he imme- 
diately secured his own house, and rode oif to Jamestown 
and informed the governor, who with all despatch took 
means to prevent the catastrophe. But he had not time 
to inform the more distant planters, who were the first 
sufferers. Soon the light from the burning dwellings 
showed that the savages were at their work. From home 
to home they went, murdering men, women, and children, 
even burning their houses and driving off the cattle ; but 
suoti was their fear of the English that wherever resistance 



80 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



was made they retreated in dismay. At length the whole 
country was aroused and the massacre came to an end, 




MASSACRE OF 1622. 

but not before three hundred and forty-seven men, womer»- 
and children had been killed. 

Captain Smith's Proposition. — Great was the dis- 
tress of the people of England when the news of this 
calamity reached them. Many mourned friends among the 
'slain, and others lamented those who, though still alive, were 
within reach of the tomahawk and scalping-knife. While 
the excitement was at its height, Captain John Smith w^rote 
a letter to the king, representing how worse than useless it 
was any longer to trust to the promises of friendship given 
by the savage tribes of Virginia; he said that they must 
either be driven out of the country or kept in subjection, 
and offered, if the king would give him a hundred and 
thirty-seven men, with ships and money, to undertake tbe 
accomplishment of one or the other of these objects. He 
had many objections to encounter, but succeeded in obtain- 



* HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 81 

ing what he wanted, and, after six years' absence, again 
set sail for Virginia, but suffered shipwreck and was 
forced to return. Smith never saw the country again for 
which he suffered so much. 

One cannot restrain a feeling of pity when he reads 
the account of the Indian tribes being driven back step by 
step before the sword of their conquerors ; but this feeling 
should not lead us into error. He who led the conquering 
host of Israel into the promised land, and drove out before 
them the Amorite, the Hittite, and the Perizzite, willed 
that Christopher Columbus should accomplish the purpose 
for which he was created, and nerved the arm of Captain 
John Smitli and those who succeeded him. so that, like a 
second Samson, fighting under the leadership of the great 
Jehovah, they paused not until this fair country was 
wrested from the hands of the barbarous savage and given 
to those who worshipped the God of heaven. 

The Whites and the Indians. — You have heard 
much said, and will hear still more, about the -wrong 
which has been done to the red man by the white man; 
but what would have been said if the civilized nations of 
the world had turned their backs upon this great continent, 
with all of its wonderful resources, because it was occupied 
by a few savage tribes, who were incapable alike of ap- 
preciating their possessions or improving them ? God for 
his own purposes makes one nation superior to another. 
and the history of the world shows that the inferior 
always gives place to the superior race; so that while tlie 
act which has driven the red man backward step b}^ step is 
man's, yet the purpose was God's, of whom man is but the 
instrument. 

Hostilities unavoidable.— Could the two peoples have 

d^elt together in peace, it would have been wrong for 

the English to have dispossessed the Indians; but these 

horrible massacres, occurring after long seasons of peace 

/ 



82 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. - 

and apparent friendship, were proof sufficient that no 
colony could prosper so long as the savage tribes were 
their neighbors. Had it been possible, it would have been 
much better for the English to have bought the lands 
from the Indians, and this was done to some extent ; but 
as a general thing they were averse to parting with them, 
and did not recognize a bargain after it was made ; so that, 
as tranquillity was absolutely necessary to the prosperity 
of the .colony, the savage must be removed beyond the 
settlements that it might be secured. 

English History. — In order that you may understand 
fully this period in the history of Virginia, it is necessary 
to give you an insight into the history of England at that 
time, since Virginia was a British province. 

Henry VII. narrowly missed the glory of promoting 
the discovery of the Western World ; for Christopher 
Columbus was actually on his way to England to solicit 
the help of this its sovereign, when his ship was driven 
back by a storm, and he received the aid of the King of 
Spain. 

When the King of England found of what great 
importance this discovery was to be, he lost no time in 
fitting out vessels, and sending the Cabots to follow it 
up by others ; and, as I have already told you, they made 
the discovery of the main continent of America. During 
the reign of Queen Elizabeth of England several inef- 
fectual attempts were made to colonize America. Eliza- 
beth was succeeded by James I., and he it was who 
granted a charter to the London Company to plant a 
colony in Virginia, and they, as you remember, sent out 
Captain Smith and his companions. Nearly twenty years 
had elapsed since this settlement, and although the Lon- 
don Company had spent a great deal of money, the colony, 
as we have seen, did not flourish under its control as it 
ought to have done 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 83 

King James seeing this, and foreseeing also the great 
wealth which must accrue to the English crown if these 
colonies were successfully established, determined to take 
the matter into his own hands ; he therefore deprived the 
London Company of its charter. This was certainly an 
unjust act, as the word of a king should never be broken ; 
and it seemed very much like robbery of the merchants 
and other rich men who constituted the London Com- 
pany, just w^hen they might reasonably have expected 
to reap the benefits of the great expenditures they had 
made. Accordingly they offered an indignant remon- 
strance against this act of the king; but it did no good; 
King James remained firm. Now although this was a 
great misfortune for the company, yet it was the best 
thing that ever happened to Yirginia; for during the 
eighteen years of the existence of the London Company 
the colonists were looked upon in no other light than as 
servants of the company, which had no settled plan for 
its improvement. No wonder, then, that the Yirginians 
lost sight of the wrong which was done to the London 
Company, and rejoiced in the change that was come to 
themselves. 

King James did not live long enough to complete his 
plans for the government of Virginia, as his death oc- 
curred only one year after he had taken the control of 
the colony from the London Company. His son, Charles 
I., ascended the throne, and, adopting his father's ideas 
about the new country, declared it to belong to the crown 
Df England, and directly under his own government. He 
appointed Sir George Yeardley governor, and empowered 
him to act in conjunction with a council of twelve men, 
according to such instructions as he himself should send 
them from time to time. Thus Virginia knew no law 
but the will of the king. Although this was more agree- 
able to them than the exactions of the London Company, 



84 HISTORF OF VIROI^UA. 

they soon learned that a change of masters did not always 
bring entire relief from oppression. 

Charles I. of England, although beloved by many of 
his subjects, was by others regarded as a tyrant. He was 
very extravagant in his babits of life, and even the reve- 
nues of his office were not sufficient to meet his wishes; 
and in order to raise money he resorted to unjust taxation. 
By his order, the Governor and Council of Virginia im- 
posed taxes ujDon the people, deprived them of their prop- 
erty, and in many other ways caused them great distress. 
The favorites of the king were sent over, with permission 
to take for their own large tracts of land, and these grants 
often encroached upon the property of those who had for 
years endured the privations of the life in a new country, 
and who thus saw the results of their labors quietly trans- 
ferred to others. 

Tobacco had long been the staple joroduction of Vir- 
ginia. It had been introduced into England by Sir 
Walter Ealeigh, who, you remember, fitted out the ves- 
sels which brought over the first English colonists to 
Virginia. Some amusing stories are told about this noble- 
man, who was very clever, and possessed a great influence 
over his sovereign mistress. Queen Elizabeth. He had 
imbibed a great fondness for smoking tobacco, and as it 
was the fashion to follow the example of this court 
favorite in all that he did, the young noblemen of the 
court all adopted the habit. One day Sir Walter was 
smoking his pipe, when his servant, who had just engaged 
in his service, entered the room. Seeing his master sitting 
before him, with a volume of smoke curling above his 
head, the man thought that he was on fire, and the first 
thing the nobleman knew was a douse of cold water all 
over him. 

Another day he "was smoking in the presence of 
Queen Elizabeth and the ladies of her court, and made a 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. ^5 

wager that he could weigh the smoke which ascended 
from his pipe and curled away until it was lost in the 
pure atmosphere of the room. Elizabeth bet him five 
broad pieces of gold that this could not be done. The 
nobleman, with cool confidence, weighed the pipe of 
tobacco and then proceeded to smoke it; after he had 
finished, he carefully weighed the pipe with the ashes, 
which of course was lighter than the tobacco had been; 
he then triumphantly declared that the difi'erence between 
the two must be the weight of the smoke which had es- 
caped. He had fairly gained his wager, and the queen 
laid the gold pieces upon his extended palm. 

Unjust Proclamation. — Since that time the demand 
for tobacco had steadily increased, and the sale of it 
brought much wealth to the colony. What, then, were 
the surprise and indignation of the Virginians to find a 
proclamation issued by order of the king, that henceforth 
no tobacco should be sold except to agents appointed by 
himself. This brought down the price, deprived the col- 
onists of a great source of wealth, and created much dis- 
satisfaction and murmuring among them. They presented 
a petition to the king, stating a list of their grievances and 
praying relief; but of this he took not the least notice. 

The condition of affairs grew worse instead of better. 
Tyrannical governors were appointed, who executed the 
king's commands with severity, — nay, more, who, seeing 
that the Yirginians had no redress, oppressed them even 
beyond their authority, until at last, in a fit of indigna- 
tion with one of these governors. Sir John Harvey, who 
had succeeded Governor Yeardley, the Yirginians seized 
him and sent him a prisoner to England, accompanied by 
two of their number, who were deputed to tell Charles of 
the cruelty and rapacity with which this man discharged 
his trust. 

This was a high-handed act in the Virginians, and 

8 



86 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 

one which Charles regarded as rebellion against his au- 
thority. He having appointed the governer, did not 
choose that any one but himself should remove him, so 
he refused to hear the cause, and sent Harvey back to 
resume his position. Notwithstanding this, he seems to 
have recognized the fact that it would be dangerous to 
try the Virginians too far, as not very long after Harvey 
was removed, and Sir William Berkeley, a man every way 
acceptable to them, w^as appointed his successor. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What years are included in this chapter? 

2. What necessary customs prevailed in the early days of the colonies? 

3. What change was now made, and why ? 

4. Who succeeded Powhatan ? 

5. Was he a friend to the English? 

6. Relate the circumstances of the first introduction of slavery into 
Virginia. 

7. What important cargo arrived the same year? 

8. What was the progress of the colony for some years ? 

9. What was the first check its prosperity received? 

10. Relate the story of "Jack of the Feather." 

11. What use did Opechankanough make of this incident? 

12. Give an account of the massacre of 1622. 

13. What prevented its being a perfect success? 

14. How was the news received in England? 
16. What of Captain Smith ? 

16. Was it right for the English to take the country from the Indians? 

17. How should we regard the whole affair? 

18. Why did not the English buy the lands? 

19. Why is it necessary to give some account of the history of England here ? 

20. What circumstances of interest to America happened during the reign 

of Henry VII. ? 

21. What in the reign of Elizabeth? 

22. Of James I.? 

23. Why did he take the charter from the London Company? 

24. What was Charles I.'s course? 

25. Tell the story of Sii- Walter Raleigh and the servant. 

26. How did be weigh the smoke? 

27' How did the Virginians incur Charles's displeasure? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 87 

CHAPTEE XL 
1644. 

OPECHANKANOUGH MAKES WAR AND IS TAKEN PRISONER— HIS 
DEATH— WAR IN ENGLAND— LORD BALTIMORE SETTLES MARY- 
LAND—CHARLES L BEHEADED— HOW VIRGINIA GOT THE TITLE 
"OLD DOMINION." 

The Indians had preserved an unbroken peace with 
the Virginians for twenty-three years; but their hatred, 
although carefully concealed, was not abated. Laws had 
been made which obliged them to fix their habitation at 
some distance from the white men. Opechankanough still 
lived, though he numbered nearly a hundred years ; and 
so decrepit had he become that he could no longer walk, 
but had to be carried on a litter before his warriors ; his 
eyelids were paralyzed so that he could only see w^hen 
they were raised by his attendants, and yet so fierce and 
implacable was his hatred of the whites that he deter- 
mined to make one more effort to rescue the country from 
their grasp. 

Gathering the chiefs of the different tribes together, 
he told them of his plan, and succeeded in inducing them 
to join him, by a promise that they should possess all the 
riches which had been accumulated in the country ; and, 
with the help of the arms and ammunition which they 
should gain, would be able to keep possession forever of 
the land so justly their own. The plot w^as well laid — 
not a white man was to be spared — and would have been 
successful if the Indians had carried it out courageously ; 
but the fear of the English was too rooted in them to 
permit this. They struck the first blow, and then fled. 

Sir William Berkeley, the governor, collecting a body 
of men, pursued the fugitives, and overtaking the party 



88 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



who were carrying Opechankanough upon his litter, cap- 
tured him, and took him a prisoner to Jamestown. He 
was kindly treated, but remained unconquered by age or 
by misfortunes. The j)i'esence of this brave old man ex- 




OPECHANKANDUGH LEADING HIS WARRIORS. 



cited much curiosity in Jamestown, and many flocked to 
look upon the warrior who had given them so much trouble 
during so many years. One day hearing footsteps in his 
room, he caused his eyelids to be lifted, and seeing a crowd 
of persons before him, sent for the governor and said to him, 
" Had it been my fortune to take Sir William Berkeley pris- 
oner, 1 \vould have disdained to make a show of him." He 
had probably forgotten the time when he captured Captain 
John Smith, and led him in triumph through all the Indian 
tribes upon the Chickahominy and neighboring rivers. He 
did not continue lonx^^ in the possession of the English. One 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 89 

of his guards was not ashamed to take advantage of his 
helplessness, and shot him in the back to gratify a private 
revenge. He languished for a while, and then died. 

Civil War in England. — While these events were 
taking place in Virginia, England was distracted by a 
civil war. Charles I. had pursued in his own country the 
same course by which he had oppressed the colonies in 
America. 

The Parliament. — The government of England con- 
sists of the king and the Parliament (the House of Lords 
and Bishops, and the House of Commons). The members 
of the House of Commons are, like the members of our 
Legislatures and Congress, elected by the people to represent 
their interests. These representatives go to Parliament to 
carry out the wishes of the people from whom they come, 
and thus having the good not only of the different portions 
of the country, but of the whole at heart, make laws suit- 
able to the state of their affairs. Now, if it should so hap- 
pen that one portion of the country should not send its rep- 
resentatives to Parliament, you can understand that, having 
no one to speak for it, that portion would be neglected in 
the consultations for the general good. So there was a 
law made that no part of the country should be taxed 
unless it was represented. The American colonies were 
not represented, so, according to the laws of England, 
they should not have been taxed. 

Quarrel of King and Parliament. — There were two 
other laws which just now had an important bearing upon 
English affairs : 1st. The Parliament was always called 
together by the king, and could only meet by his orders. 
2d. The king could make no laws and take no step without 
the consent of Parliament. I have told you that Charles 
was in the habit of raising money by taxing the people. 
This Parliament would not give its consent to, and so there 
arose a quarrel between the two heads of the government. 

8* 



90 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Charles dissolved the Parliament and refused to call another, 
and went on laying his taxes on the people. This continued 
for a number of years, and everything was thrown into 
the utmost confusion ; the people groaned under the unjust 
taxation, and there was no Parliament to set things right. 

War ensues. — Then commenced a war between the 
king and Parliament, which resulted in the dethronement 
and capture of the king, who was afterwards beheaded in 
front of his palace ; and Parliament took the entire con- 
trol of the affairs of government, and placed at their head 
Oliver Cromwell, with the title of Protector. Now, though 
the Virginians had suffered much from the unjust taxation 
of Charles, yet were they loyal to his cause, mourned his 
death, and gave no recognition to the Parliamentary gov- 
ernment. They were also encouraged in this course by 
Sir William Berkeley, who was a stanch friend of royal 
authority ; and Virginia became a refuge for the friends 
of King Charles who were obliged to flee from their own 
country. 

Parliament then passed' a law prohibiting trade with 
Virginia because she harbored the enemies of the Com- 
monwealth, and instructions were issued for the "reduce- 
ment of the inhabitants of Virginia to the Commonwealth." 
In March, 1652, the fleet under Captain Dennis arrived in 
the rJver opposite Jamestown and demanded the surrender 
of the pi; ice. In spite of his loyalty to the king. Sir Wil- 
liam Berkeley had to submit to what he had no means of 
resisting. The capitulation was made on the 12th of March, 
and terms highly honorable were granted. Virginia was to 
have all the privileges of any other plantation in America. 
The oath of allegiance was to be administered to all the 
people, but the governor and Council were permitted to 
wait one year before taking it. Sir William Berkeley was 
permitted to send a messenger to the exiled king telling 
him of the surrender of the country. They were per- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 91 

mitted to use the Prayer-book for one year, upon con- 
dition that they did not pray for the king. A few months 
before this the Navigation Act had been passed, which for- 
bade Virginia trading with any country except England. 
She was now permitted free trade, and was only to be 
taxed with the consent of her own Grand Assembly. 

Church Disputes. — The Episcopalian is the estab- 
lished Church of England, that of Scotland is Presbyte- 
rian, and the history of these two countries was for many 
years a struggle between the two forms of religion ; the 
English insisting that the Scotch Presbyterians should 
use the Prayer-book service, and they fighting for their 
right to worship God according to the old forms of their 
church, which they still preserve. While the English, on 
the one hand, were violently opposed to the simple forms- 
of the Church of Scotland, on the other hand they hated 
the gorgeous forms of the Church of Eome. We will not. 
enter into a discussion of these religious controversies; 
suffice it to say that the most bitter animosities, the most 
bloody wars, and the most unconquerable prejudices are- 
those which have their root in religion ; and so all of 
these different parties bated each other with what they 
called a " holy hatred," and in England the sovereigns 
were always forced to take an oath to preserve the faith 
of the Church of England. 

Now, as Yirginia was colonized by the English, of 
course the Episcopal was the established church of the 
country; and in no part of the "Mother-Country," as^ 
England was called, was the devotion to the forms of 
this church greater than in this her colony. 

King Charles, although himself a Protestant, had a. 
Catholic wife, and one of his favorites was Lord Balti- 
more, a firm adherent of the Church of Eome. He, find- 
ing that his religion interfered M^ith his possession of 
property in England, obtained a grant of land from the^ 



92 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

king, and came over to Yirginia to settle. Here he had the 
same difficulties to encounter, as the Virginians were averse 
to the very name of Papist. He seems to have been a very- 
estimable gentleman, and not at all anxious to provoke 
controversy; so leaving the inhabited parts of Virginia, he 
proceeded up Chesapeake Bay to its head, where he found 
a beautiful country unoccupied. Eeturning to England, he 
obtained Charles's permission to settle a Catholic colony 
upon land that of right belonged to Virginia. This State 
he called Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, the wife of 
King Charles; and the first city which was laid out was 
called Baltimore. 

The Virginians did not give up their right to this 
territory without a struggle; and it was not until after 
years of controversy that Maryland was recognized as a 
separate State. Maryland, therefore, is the eldest daugh- 
ter of Virginia, being the first State that was formed out 
of South Virginia. 

After the execution of Charles I. an effort was made 
to force the Marylanders to observe the forms of the 
Protestant religion ; and, for a short time, this was suc- 
cessful, and the Eoman Catholics were excluded from the 
pale of religious freedom. But Oliver Cromwell, the 
Lord Protector of England, refused to sanction this, but 
ordered the commissioners " not to busy themselves about 
religion, but to settle the civil government ;" and the 
Oatholics were again restored to their rights. 

Virginia loyal to the King. — T have told you that the 
Episcopal had been the established form of religion in 
Virginia as well as in England ; but the contest between 
Oharles I. and his Parliament worked a change in both 
countries. The Parliament of England was composed of 
members from Scotland, who were stanch Presbyterians, 
whilst those from England were, of course. Episcopalians. 
The members who adhered to King Charles were mostly 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 93 

of his own faith, and when they were defeated, the 
Presbyterians, or Puritans as they were called, were in 
the majority; and when they took possession of the gov- 
ernment of Virginia, although the use of the Prayer- 
book was permitted, the Scotch form of worship was 
also sanctioned. 

I have thought it right to call your attention to these 
matters concerning religious forms, because the changes 
I have spoken of constitute tlie first steps towards that 
freedom of religion wliicLi has ever beeu the pride of 
America. 

Oliver Cromwell ruled England for eleven years, and 
they were years of great prosperity and peace ; not only 
for the mother-country, but for her colonies in America. 
At the time of his death the English people were so 
well satisfied with the form of government he had in- 
augurated that they had no wish ever again to have a 
king to rule over them ; and had there been another man 
like Oliver Cromwell, who could have governed them 
wisely and well, they would probably have continued in 
the same state of mind. But his son, who succeeded him, 
was not capable of filling his place, w^iich caused great dis- 
satisfaction ; and many began to turn their eyes to Charles, 
the son of their late king, and to think that perhaps 
they would be happier under his government. This 
ended in his being invited to occupy the throne, ^vhich 
invitation he gladly accepted; and at the period which 
we have now reached he governed the kingdom under the 
title of Charles the Second. 

The "Old Dominion."— About this time Virginia 
received the title of "Old Dominion," which you have 
doubtless heard. I will tell you how. Although she 
w^as forced to submit to Oliver Cromwell, she never gave 
up her loyalty to the king, and sent a small vessel to 
"Flanders, where Charles, the son of the king who had 



94 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

been executed, was an exile from his country. This 
vessel bore an invitation from the colony in Virginia to 
Charles to come across the ocean and set up his throne 
upon her territory, and his loyal subjects there would 
fight to maintain him in that position. Charles had ac- 
cepted the invitation, and was actually, making prepara- 
.tions to become King of Virginia when a second invita- 
tion arrived for him, from his subjects in England, to come 
back to the throne of his fathers. This was the most im- 
portant of the two, and so he went, and was proclaimed 
Charles II., of England. As soon as he was firmly estab- 
lished upon his throne, in gratitude to Virginia for her 
loyalty, he caused her to be ])roclaimed an independent 
member of his empire, which was to consist of England, 
Scotland, Ireland, and Virginia, and her coat of arms was 
added to those of the other three countries comprised in his 
dominions. 

This was considered a great honor by Virginia, which has 
ever since retained the title of the " Old Dominion." 

Navigation Laws. — It was during Charles's reign 
that the famous Navigation Laws were passed, which 
were so long a source of trouble and depression to the 
colony. They forbade that Virginia should trade with 
any nation but England, and by thus cutting them off 
from other markets, compelling them to take whatever 
prices the English might think proper to pay, besides 
preventing an exchange of commodities with other coun- 
tries. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What date heads this chapter? 

2. What was the condition of affairs between the English and Indians? 

3. What of Opechankanough ? 

4. What plot did he conceive? 

5. How did he carry it out? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 95 

6. What was the result? 

7. How did Opechankanough behave as a prisoner? 

8. Give circumstances of his de.ith. 

9. What constituted the English government ? 

10. In what way was the Parliament a governor of the king? 

11. How did a quarrel arise between the king and Parliament? 

12. What was the result? 

13. What part did Virginia take in these affairs? 

14. What constituted the church controversies? 

15. How was Maryland colonized? 

16. Did Virginia willingly give up the territory ? 

17. What was the state of the churches after Charles's death? 

ly. Why is it necessary that the student of the history of Virginia should 
understand the?e matters ? 

19. What was the condition of England under Cromwell? 

20. How did Virginia acquire the title of '' Old Dominion" ? 

21. What oppressive laws were enacted during the reign of Charles II.? 



CHAPTEE XII. 
1675. 

INDIAN TROUBLES-BACON'S REBELLION. 

Sir William Berkeley had now been Governor of Vir- 
ginia for some thirty-three years. He had fostered Vir- 
ginia in her infancy, and her youth was developing with 
every promise of continued prosperity. 

The Indians had not seriously interfered with the 
whites since the attempted massacre of 1644, and al- 
though the friendship of some of the tribes was still 
doubted, yet manj^ of them were embracing the Chris- 
tian faith, and showing a desire to have their children 
educated ; and had the marriage of Pocahontas with an 
Englishman been followed by others of the same sort, 
it was believed by many that the intermingling of the 
races would in one or two generations have wiped out 



96 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

all distinctions and differences. But this was not to be. 
The white man regarded his dark-skinned neighbor as 
an inferior, and the proud savage winced under his knowl- 
edge of this feeling. Underneath a friendly exterior he 
still cherished a vindictive hatred against those whom he 
never ceased to regard as usurpers of his property and 
rights. 

Hostilities with the Indians. — At the period of which 
we now speak this enmity between the two races began 
to show itself The settlers on the frontier sent to the 
governor, asking his protection against the tribes in their 
neighborhood, who were depredating upon them, and mur- 
dering those who ventured unarmed into their midst. 

In imitation of the government of England, the affairs 
in Virginia were regulated by the governor and an As- 
sembly composed of representatives from all the differ- 
ent counties. The governor could take no step without 
the consent of this, the House of Burgesses. At the next 
meeting of the Assembly he presented the petition of the 
settlers, and the grievances were considered sufficient to 
justify a declaration of war against the Indians. Five 
hundred men were enlisted and the forts garrisoned. One 
of these forts was on the Eappahannock where Freder- 
icksburg now stands, another on the Mattapony, another 
on the Pamunkey, and another at the falls of the Appo- 
mattox, near the present site of Petersburg. The little 
army was put under the command of Sir Henry Chiche- 
ley; but just as he was about to march against the In- 
dians, to the general surprise and dissatisfaction of the 
colony, he was ordered by Sir William Berkeley to disband 
his forces. 

Nathaniel Bacon. — The continuance of the Indian 
outrages exasperated the colonists greatly, and they de- 
termined that if their governor would not defend them 
they would defend themselves. This determination was 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 97 

Strengthened by the news of fresh outrages on the fron- 
tiers; and looking around for some leader qualified to 
direct their operations, they found just the man they 
wanted in Nathaniel Bacon, a young gentleman of great 
popularity, who had his residence on the James Eiver, 
near where Richmond now stands. The Indians had 
killed his overseer and one of his servants; for this he 
had vowed vengeance. He was chosen general by the 
colonists, who had risen now to the number of near six 
hundred men, and he at once applied to Sir William 
Berkeley for his commission. The old governor was 
secretly outraged at this infringement of his authority, 
but was afraid to resist the demands of this formidable 
body of men with arms in their hands. In order to gain 
time, he returned an evasive reply to Bacon's demand for 
the commission, and sent some of his friends to persuade 
him to disband his forces. The governor also issued a 
proclamation, declaring all such as should not return to 
their homes within a certain time rebels and traitors. 
This looked so serious that those who had property, fear- 
ing confiscation, deserted Bacon and returned home. 
Stimulated rather than intimidated by the course of the 
governor. Bacon refused to yield, and with only fifty men 
pursued his course towards the frontier. Sir William 
Berkeley, collecting a troop of horse, pursued Bacon about 
forty miles and then returned home. 

Slaughter of Friendly Indians.— Bacon, with his 
small body of men, proceeded up the river. Many days 
elapsed before they encountered the Indians; but at 
length they found a fort in which were intrenched a 
party of Mannakins, a tribe which had always been 
friendly to the English. Bacon, calling to them from 
across the river, asked for food, offering to pay them 
hberally. They put him off with promises for three days, 
when Bacon, with some of his nearljr starving men. waded 
E ^ ? 



98 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



across the river and again demanded food. Just then a 
shot was fired from the side of the river Bacon had just 
left, and one of his men was killed. The idea at once 
occurred to him that Governor Berkeley had concerted 
a plan with the Indians for the destruction of his little 
army, and that they had been kept there by false prom- 
ises for three days until the governor should arrive. In 
ii storm of indignation he ordered his men to advance, 
and. without taking time for thought, utterly demolished 
the fort and all that it contained ; killing a hundred and Mty 




BACON BEFORE BERKELEY. 



Indians, and hiiLiself only losing three men. This was a 
great stain upon the character of Bacon, who was other- 
wise remarkable for moderation and clemency; but nothing 
can excuse such slaughter. 

Bacon arrested. — He seems to have been shocked at 
his own act, as, after this, he disbanded his men and re- 



HISTORF OF VIRGINIA. 99 

turned home. No immediate steps were taken against 
him. He was elected to the House of Burgesses from the 
county of Henrico, and going down to take his place in 
the Assembly, was arrested and sent a prisoner to James- 
town, where he was forced to humble himself and ask 
pardon for his offences, and to give his word of honor 
that he would not again offend. He was permitted to 
take his place in the House, and was promised a com- 
mission to go against the Indians ; but hearing through a 
friend that Sir William Berkeley was dealing falsely with 
him, and was plotting against his liberty and life, he 
escaped from Jamestown. 

March on Jamestown. — So great was tne indignation 
felt throughout the whole country at the humiliation to 
which he had been subjected, that in a few days four hun- 
dred men joined him ; and with this force he marched 
towards Jamestown, determined to obtain by force the 
commission which had been promised him. Sir William 
Berkeley, in alarm, summoned the whole militia of the 
country to defend Jamestown; but could only collect one 
hundred men, all the rest having flocked to the standard 
of Bacon, and half, if not all, of those which were left 
being favorable to his cause. In four days Bacon marched 
into Jamestown, unresisted. Nothing could exceed the 
panic of the House of Burgesses at his appearance, while 
the citizens rejoiced. 

Drawing up his forces on the green in front of the 
State-House, Bacon demanded an interview with the gov- 
ernor. The old man rushed out into the midst of the 
rebels, and baring his breast, cried out in an agitated 
voice four or five times without stopping, " Here ! shoot 
me, 'fore God, fair mark, shoot !" Bacon, advancing cour- 
teously towards him, raised his hat as he said, " No, may 
it please your Honor, we will not hurt a hair of your head 
or any other man's. In order to save our lives from the 



iOO HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Indians we are come for the commission which you have 
80 often promised, and now we will have it !" and Bacon 
commenced walking up and down excitedly before his 
men. Sir William \vithdrew to the State-House to con- 
sult with the Burgesses, and Bacon followed him, while 
a company of his men with their guns cocked advanced 
to the windows of the room where the Burgesses were 
assembled, exclaiming, " We will have it ! we will have 
it!" One of the Burgesses, going to the window, waved 
his handkerchief, exclaiming, "You shall have it! you 
shall have it!" Bacon harangued the Assembly upon the 
subject of the Indian outrages, the enormous taxes, and 
other grievances, and demanded authority to redress at 
least some of them. 

The Burgesses were nearly all favorable to Bacon, but 
only the governor could give the commission, and he was 
not easily brought to terms. Finding, however, that there 
was no escape, he at length signed the commission, and 
Bacon and his men departed in triumph. 

Bacon denounced as a Traitor. — They had scarcely 
left Jamestown before Governor Berkeley declared Bacon 
and his followers rebels and traitors, and that his commis- 
sion was forfeited. Berkeley then repaired to Gloucester 
County, where he believed he had many friends, and sum- 
moned all who were loyal to the king to rally around him 
and support him against these disturbers of the public 
peace. He met with a very different response from what 
he expected. The men of Gloucester told him that they 
regarded Bacon as their friend and brother, that he was 
doing their country a service by fighting the Indians, and 
they had no w^ish to bear arms against him ; when he 
should really become a traitor, the governor might depend 
upon them. Berkeley gnashed his teeth with rage at this 
rebellion against his authority, but stood too much alone 
to force their compliance. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 101 

Intelligence of these events was conveyed to Bacon 
by Drummond and Lawrence, two of his friends, and he 
said bitterly 'twas a hard case that while he was hunting 
wolves which w^ere destroying innocent lambs, that he 
should thus be hunted in the rear like a savage animal. 
He added, " I am like corn between two millstones, which 
will grind me to powder if I don't look to it." Eetracing 
his steps, he marched towards Gloucester, intending to 
force Sir William into a different course of action; but 
the old governor, having no idea of risking a personal 
encounter, calling together the few friends wdio still clung 
to his fortunes, crossed the bay and took refuge in Acco- 
mac County, where he not only hoped to be out of reach 
of the ''rebellion," but to find many friends to aid him in 
his time of need. In this latter hope he was disappointed. 

Berkeley in Accomac. — By looking at the map of 
Virginia you wdll find that Chesapeake Bay runs up into 
its territory, leaving a long slip of land on its eastern side, 
which terminates in a peninsula, at the southern extremity 
of which is Cape Charles. When Captain Smith first 
brought his colony to Virginia, this peninsula was inhab- 
ited by the Accomac Indians, and from them it was named 
Accomac County ; and here it was that Governer Berkeley 
expected to find hosts of friends. Instead, he soon per^ 
ceived that the country was filled with earnest sympa- 
thizers with Bacon, who looked so coldly upon him that 
he was forced to conclude that his presence was endured, 
not desired. 

When the Virginians discovered that Sir William 
Berkeley had withdrawn himself from the State, as Ac- 
comac was regarded in some sort as independent of the 
government of Virginia, they determined to act as though 
he had abandoned the conduct of afi'airs. Bacon called to- 
gether the most prominent men of the colony at Middle 
Plantation, where Williamsburg now stands, to consult as 

9^ 



102 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

to the best mode of conduct under the circumstances. 
The period for which the governor was elected was ten 
years, and the fact that this time had long passed was 
unnoticed so long as Berkeley was regarded as a just and 
wise ruler, with the good of Virginia at heart ; but as this 
was no longer the case, they determined to regard his ot:ce 
as vacant, and proceed accordingly. 

The Popular Feeling. — The meeting was character- 
ized by that enthusiasm which such stirring times and 
critical situations always engender. Patriotic speeches 
were made, in which even the women seem to have had 
a voice. There was with Bacon one William Drummond ; 
he may be regarded as one of the leaders of the rebellion. 
Sarah Drummond, his wife, was also an ardent supporter 
of the cause. She was pi-esent at this meeting of the 
patriots, and rose in the Assembly and said, ^' The child 
that is unborn will have cause to rejoice at this rising 
of the country." A paper, which all signed, was drawn 
up, in which they set forth the grievances which the 
country suffered, the burdensome taxes under which the 
people groaned, the Navigation Act which restricted their 
commerce, and, above all, the horrors of the Indian out- 
rages to which they were constantly subjected. They 
spoke of the ardor with which Nathaniel Bacon and his 
followers had striven to redress these last-mentioned griev- 
ances, at the hands of the governor and others, and they 
bound themselves by an oath to join Bacon against the 
common enemy, and to defend him against the governor 
and his adherents; they even went further, and declared 
that inasmuch as Sir William Berkeley had informed the 
king that the people of Yirghiia were rebels and traitors, 
and had requested him to send troops to subdue tliem, they 
were resolved to resist those troops until the king could be 
rightly informed as to the true state of the case. 

The Indian Power broken. — After this meeting, Bacon 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 103 

departed with his gallant army to attack the Indians. He 
destroyed several of their towns, and then proceeded to a 
point where he expected to encounter their whole force. 
Bacon's Quarter Branch, a little stream on the outskirts 
of the city of Kichmond, marks this point. He met the 
Indians at Bloody Eun, another stream in the same neigh- 
borhood, and here routed them so completely that the 
Indian power in Virginia was forever broken. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. When did these events take place? 

2. What of Sir William Berkeley ? 

3. What relations existed between the Indians and Virginians? 

4. How did the secret animosity of the savage now begin to show itself? 

5. In what respects was the government of Virginia like that of England? 

6. How did the governor act in this crisis, and how was his conduct re- 

garded by the Virginians ? 

7. Whom did the Virginians choose as their leader, and what of him ? 

8. What did Bacon do, and how did the governor regard his demands? 

9. How did the governor act ? 

10. What did Bacon do? 

11. Relate the circumstances of the storming of the Indian foit. 

12. Was Bacon excusable for the massacre? 

13. What did he do next? 

14. What happened after his election to the House of Burgesses? 

15. Tell of his leaving Jamestown. 

16. What was his next step ? 

17. How was he received by the governor and House of Burgesses? 

18. Did they comply with his demands? 

19. What course did the governor adopt when Bacon left Jamestown ? 

20. How did the people of Gloucester receive the governor ? 

21. How did Bacon receive the news of these events? 

22. What course did he take ? 

23. Where is Accomac County ? 

24. What did the Virginians do when they found Berkeley had gone to 

Accomac ? 

25. What was the character of the meeting at Middle Plantation? 

26. Repeat some of the sentiments of the people. 

27. What was Bacon's course? 



104 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



CHAPTEE XIII. 

1675.— Continued. 
BACON'S REBELLION.— Continued. 



Nathaniel Bacon had scarcely accomplished this vic- 
tory over the Indians, before he received intelligence 
which again turned his attention to the enemy in his 
rear. Giles Bland and William Carver, two of Bacon's 
followers, had seized a ship of four guns, which was com- 
manded by one Captain Laramore. Putting a number 
of men on board of her, they proceeded down James 
River and into Chesapeake Bay, which they crossed, 
and anchored near Accomac County, in the neighbor- 
hood of Governor Berkele3^'8 refuge. The object of this 
expedition was nominall}'" to intercept supplies going to 
the governor, as Bacon had ordered all vessels to be 
seized which were found thus employed. Now, though 
this was their avowed object, it is not improbable that 
they intended, should the opportunity occur, to take 
possession of the person of the governor and, by carry- 
ing him to Jamestown, force him to make a peace which 
would secure Bacon from the annoyance of an enemy in 
his rear. 

Laramore 's Treachery. — Bland had already seized 
several vessels, and was cruising in the bay, near the 
shores of Accomac, when Captain Laramore secretly sent 
a message to the governor, that if he would send a suf- 
ficient force, under an officer of tried fidelity, that he 
would promise to put him in possession of the ship, whose 
capture could easily be followed by that of the entire 
squadron belonging to the rebels. This message threw 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 105 

the governor into a state of gieat agitation. On the 
one hand, Laramore was known to be an unprincipled 
and profligate man, and it was not improbable that this 
very message might be part of a plan to decoy him into 
the hands of his enemy ; on the other hand, his condition 
was desperate ; few of the Virginians still clung to him in 
his fallen fortunes, and his personal safety was every day 
becoming more insecure. His spirits rose at the mere 
thought of the great advantages which would accrue to 
his cause were Laramore only true to his promises. 

The Ship taken. — While he was in this state of in- 
decision, Philip Ludwell, one of his most devoted fol- 
lowers, sought an interview with him, and begged that 
he might have the management of the affair. The gov- 
ernor consented, and Ludwell, securing two boats, em- 
barked at midnight, with twenty-six of his friends. 
Laramore had promised them a certain signal, and they 
were encouraged by seeing it as they neared the fleet. 
Guided by it, they were soon alongside the ship, which 
they boarded before their presence was discovered. Bland 
and his men, roused from their slumbers by the unusual 
noises on deck, rushed from their cabins, only to find 
themselves prisoners in the hands of their foes ; and in 
a few hours the whole navy fell a prey to the governor's 
forces. 

Berkeley returns. — Nothing could exceed the delight 
of Sir William Berkeley at this success, which gave him 
an opportunity to retrieve his depressed fortunes. He 
at once embarked for Jamestown, which he knew could 
make no resistance, as Bacon was far away on his Indian 
expedition with the flower of his army. With the great- 
est exultation, the governor took possession of his former 
home, proclaimed Bacon a rebel, and commanded his fol- 
lowers to surrender him and disperse, if they would not 
themselves be punished as traitors. He then called a 



106 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

meeting of the Council, filling it up with only such men 
as he knew to be devoted to his cause. 

His Success.— Inspired by the example of Ludwell, 
many now flocked to Jamestown, anxious to show their 
zeal for the king; and in a few days Sir William Berkeley 
found himself at the head of an army of near a thousand 
men. This was the news that struck Bacon like an elec- 
tric shock, as he was returning victorious from his Indian 
expedition. In a moment he saw the full danger of the 
situation. His followers, under the impression that since 
the defeat of the Ind ans there could be no immediate 
call for their services, had many of them dispersed to 
their homes ; and Bacon found himself with an army 
of scarcely three hundred men, worn down with the 
fjitigues of their Indian campaigns, in want of the bare 
necessaries of life, in the face of an enemy of more than 
three times their number, and provided with everything 
necessary for their comfort and success. 

Bacon's Advance. — It is no wonder that for a moment 
the heart of the young leader failed him ; but it was only 
for a moment. JJ^athaniel Bacon was of too brave a spirit 
and too sanguine a temper for despondency to master 
him ; indeed, the very difficulties he had to encounter but 
stimulated his ardor. He made a stirring speech, the elo- 
quence of which so fired the enthusiasm of his men that 
they rallied around him, professing their determination to 
follow him without reinforcements, and never to seek 
repose until he had led them to a victory which would 
be the last blow to the hopes and machinations of their 
tyiants. Their enthusiasm rose when they commenced 
their march ; want and fatigue were all forgotten, and 
they listened only to their indignation as they thought 
of Jamestown, the cradle of the infant colony in the New 
World, now in the hands of the man who was plotting 
against their freedom. The army, as it passed through 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



107 



the country, presented the appearance of a triumphal 
procession. In the centre were placed their Indian cap- 
tives, with the arms and pkmder which had been taken 
in battle, covered over with flags and other gaudy dis- 




BACO-V ADDRESSING HIS MEN. 



plays of military pomp, by w^hich they proclaimed those 
i:>ast achievements upon which they based their hope of 
coming victory. In their front, upon a spirited steed^ 
rode a gallant figure, whose animated countenance and 
courageous bearing proclaimed him one well qualified to 
inspire an army to dare great deeds and win its way 
against any odds. This was Nathaniel Bacon, whose elo- 
quence chased away despondency and revived the ardor 
of that army of which he was the idol. 
Jamestown besieged. — The sun was just setting when 



108 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

the little aimy arrived in sight of Jamestown. From a 
neighboring height it overlooked the little town, now 
bright with the rays of the departing sun, and again the 
indignant blood flushed the cheeks of the war-worn pa- 
triots as they saw before them evidences of the presence 
of their hated foe. General Bacon ordered a cannon to 
be fired and trumpets to be sounded in token of defiance; 
then dismounting, with his own hands he drew the lines 
for intrenchments. In this moment of inaction for the 
weary men nature was loudly asserting her claims, and 
again the spirit-stirring voice of their leader entreated 
them not to give her hearing until they could rest se- 
curely without fear of their foes. He himself set the 
example, and soon all signs of weariness disappeared ; 
their cheery and brave voices rose in mirth and exulta- 
tion, patriotic songs mingled with the plaintive evening 
hymn, as their intrenchments rose like magic beneath the 
full light of an October moon. Their labor ended, they 
fell, with the implements of their work still in hand, be- 
neath that master which would no longer be resisted, and 
slept in security behind the breastworks. 

At dawn their labors again commenced. Eefreshed by 
slumber, they pressed forward eagerly to receive the com- 
mands of their general. A small party was despatched to 
skirmish near the enemy's lines, in order to ascertain their 
strength, while the rest of the army waited in the rear, as 
patiently as they could, the onset of the governor's troops. 

Sir ^A^illia^l Berkeley was by no means anxious to 
dehiy matters. A stern old soldier, in whom the courage 
of youth still lived despite his years, he believed that he 
was but performing his duty to his king in subduing this 
dangerous rebellion against lawful authority; he had noth- 
ing to gain by delay, as he did not expect reinforcements 
unless the king's troops shotild arrive in time from Eng- 
land, which he had no reason to anticipate. Hearing 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 109 

that Bacon's army was receiving hourly accessions to its 
numbers, the governor at once mustered his troops, and 
placed them under the command of Ludwell and Beverley, 
his two stanchest adherents. 

They sallied forth ; but soon the diiference in the spirit 
of the two armies became apparent. Berkeley's army was 
made up of men picked from the idle and dissolute, most 
of them without a foot of ground they could call their 
own, inspired only by their hopes of gain, and the prom- 
ises of plunder and confiscations which the governor had 
made to them before they would engage in his service. 
Bacon's men, on the other hand, fought for their firesides, 
and for that liberty of opinion and action, the love of w^hich 
the free life in the wide forests of the New World seems to 
have inspired in the hearts of the colonists since the earliest 
settlement in Virginia. 

The governor's troops, under their leaders Ludwell 
and Beverley, advanced towards the intrench ments with a 
considerable show of ardor, but the contest lasted only a 
few minutes ; for when these paid mercenaries received the 
steady and well-directed fire of Bacon's patriotic little army, 
they ignominiously turned and fled back to Jamestown, al- 
though their officers implored them, with tears in their eyes, 
to turn and stand their ground, and thus wipe off this stain 
upon their courage. But such arguments had no eflect upon 
the panic-stricken fugitives ; on they fled, until they reached 
the protection of their batteries and the cannon from their 
ships. 

Pursuit checked. — Bacon, surprised at this sudden re- 
sult, suspected it w^as a trick to draw his men into an am- 
bush, and checked the pursuit a short distance from his 
own lines. Had he not done so, the story of this contest 
might have been ended in a few words, as there is little 
doubt, so great was the panic, that if the little army had 
then pressed forward they might have entered Jamestown 

JO 



110 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

almost without opposition, and Sir William Berkeley and 
all the other officers of the royal government falling into 
their hands, they might have dictated such a peace as 
would have placed the name of Nathaniel Bacon where 
that of George AYashington stands one hundred years later, 
as the Father of Independence. 

Another disappointment awaited Governor Berkeley. 
His army not only retreated disgracefully to Jamestown, 
but the troops threw down their arms, and declared their 
determination never to take them up again. In vain were 
threats of punishment, in vain were promises of reward ; 
the}^ were too much in the majority to fear the former, and 
the rewards were nothing in comparison to the danger to 
their miserable lives. 

Berkeley's Flight. — Thus the governor found himself 
in hourly expectation of an assault from the enemy, with 
only twenty men upon whom he could rely. Even then 
the proud old man, goaded by his misfortunes into reck- 
lessness, would have remained to meet his fate, and if need 
be have died at his post rather than retreat from it; but 
the arguments of his friends convinced him that it would 
be better to await at a distance another smile from that 
fortune which had been so fickle to him. At midnight he 
and the few friends who remained to him silentlj^ and 
sadly embarked upon the boats which, under cover of the 
night, had drawn in to the shore for the purpose, taking 
with them everything of value, and the fleet dropped 
quietly down the river to await further results. 

The City deserted. — The astonishment of Bacon and 
his men, as these events disclosed themselves on the fol- 
lowing morning, may be better imagined than described. 
They could scarce believe the evidence of their senses as 
they looked upon the deserted city, and missed first the 
sentinel from his post and the mustering soldier from the 
streets; the drum and the trumpet were silent, and, miss- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



Ill 



ing all other signs of an army of occupation, they drew 
nearer to interpret for themselves the meaning of the 
strange stillness. They found the desolation complete; 
only two or three frightened inhabitants crept from the 
houses to give them welcome, and to tell to their won- 
dering audience the events of the past few hours, 

Not only was the city deserted, but the houses were 
stripped of everything of value they contained which 
could be removed, and what could not be carried off was 
wantonly thrown into the river. The enraged and disap- 
pointed patriots looked, with burning cheeks and flashing 
eyes, upon their desolated hearth-stones; while the fleet 



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BURNING OF JAMESTOWN. 



lay within their sight, but far out of their reach, down 
the river, calmly awaiting their departure in order that 
Berkeley might return and occupy the city. 



112 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Jamestown burned. — But in this expectation he too 
was doomed to disappointment. " If Jamestown no longer 
affords a shelter for true Virginians it shall never be a har- 
bor for her enemies," said General Bacon, in burning words, 
to his soldiers. As usual, they caught the inspiration from 
his lips, and soon were seen hurrying with flaming torches 
from house to house. Many a hardy soldier stood upon 
his own hearth-stone with the firebrand in his hand and 
a tear in his eye, as the thought of wife and child and 
home joys rose before his mental vision ; and then, as the 
flags of the fleet waving in the distance betrayed the 
presence of his enemy, and he thought of the oppressor 
of his country finding shelter under his roof, he cast down 
the torch and turned away, leaving it to do its work. Even 
the old church was not spared, where for nearly a hundred 
years prayers had ascended to God. 

Sir William Berkeley viewed with astonishment and in- 
dignation this last desperate resort of a determined people, 
and vowed vengeance against the authors of the outrage. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What is the date of the events contained in this chapter? 

2. What news met Bacon when returning from the conquest of the Indians ? 

3. What did Bland and Carver intend to do? 

4. What was the cause of the failure of their scheme ? 

5. Tell of the capture of Bland and Carver. 

6. How did the governor receive his success? 

7. Relate circumstances connected with his return to Jamestown. 

8. What was Bacon's condition when he heard the news? 

9. What steps did he take ? 

10. How was his speech received? 

11. Tell of the march to .Jamestown. 

12. Of their arrival at that place. 

13. Of the preparations for battle, 

14. Of the fight itself. 

15. Of the retreat of the vanquished. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 113 

16. What happened the next day ? 

17. What condition of things did Bacon and his men find when they entered 

Jamestown ? 

18. What course did they take ? 



CHAPTER XIY. 
1676. 

THE END OF BACON'S REBELLION-LORD CULPEPER-THE TOBACCO 
REBELLION. 

Sir William Berkeley, having now no place in which 
to organize his government, returned to Accomac ; and 
Bacon dismissed the great body of his followers, after en- 
gaging them to join him upon the first news of disturb- 
ance to the public tranquilhty ; nor did he relax for one 
instant his efforts to keep alive their enthusiasm. He 
went from place to place, inspiring all by his zeal and 
example ; he kept before the people the fact that although 
all seemed secure, yet was danger close at hand. Sir Wil- 
ham Berkeley had transmitted to England an account of 
the rebellion, which he represented as wide-spread and dan- 
o-erous, and entreated the king to send a sufficient force to 
restore order. The answer to this appeal was daily ex- 
pected, and Bacon was determined to resist any army that 
should be sent against him. Though disbanded, every 
man was a soldier, prepared to defend with his life the 
cause which was the cause of all Virginians. 

Bacon dies.— Yet it is always a great mistake to place 
the issue of an important undertaking upon the Hfe of a 
sino-le individual, and never was this more apparent than 
in the history of Bacon's rebellion ; for though he had many 
brave officers, they were but the creatures of his will, in- 
h 10* 



114 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

capable of acting alone. In the prosecution of his plans, 
Bacon visited all the different military posts, undergoing 
great fatigue, which, added to a cold he had contracted in 
the trenches at Jamestown, developed a fatal disease. But 
he did not permit his exertions to abate on account of his 
illness, though its effects were plainly visible. At length, 
however, he was obliged to yield to a will stronger than 
his own, and died at the residence of Doctor Pate, in 
Gloucester County, in the thirty-first year of his age. 

The death of Bacon was the knell of the cause for 
which he sacrificed himself He left none to fill his place. 
Two. of his captains, Ingram and Walklate, attempted it, 
but under their leadership the army melted away, and as 
their fortunes declined those of Berkeley revived. Bacon's 
followers were hunted down like wild animals. Among the 
first captives was Thomas Hansford, one of Bacon's w^armest 
friends. After undergoing the mere form of a trial, he was 
hurried away to the gibbet. His heroic spirit did not quail ; 
he only implored passionately that he might be shot like a 
soldier, and not die on the gallows Hke a criminal; but he 
was told that he was not a soldier but a traitor. He met 
his fate bravely, calling upon all persons present to wit- 
ness that he had simply done his duty in taking up arms 
against oppression, and that he gave up his life willingly 
for his country. He was the first Virginian who suffered 
death upon the gallows. 

This was but the beginning of the revenge Avhich 
Berkeley visited upon his victims. It is said that such 
was his rage against Bacon, that he made search for his 
body, that he might dishonor him dead who had defied him 
while living. But his grave was never found : his faithful 
friends religiously preserved his dust from outrage. 

Execution of Prisoners. — As flist as the prisoners 
were brought in they were led to execution. One Cap- 
tain Wilford made his appearance before the governor 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



115 



with his wife by his side ; she knelt at bis feet, and en- 
treated that if one must die that she might be executed, 
tsince she had encouraged her husband to join the rebel- 
lion ; but the demon of revenge had too entirely hardened 
tbe heart of Sir William Berkeley for this touching appeal 
to reach it ; he answered her with insults too gross to be 
repeated. Wilford had lost an eye in battle, and when al- 
lusion was made to it. he answered bitterly that it made 
no difference, for he had no doubt but that Governor 
Berkeley would give him a guide to the gallows. This 
proved too true, as the unhappy young man was led out 
from the presence of his wife to execution. 




BKUKELEY WELCOMING DRUMMOND. 



Berkeley's Malignity.— When William Drummond 
was captured, the passionate old governor seemed to lose 
even the control of common decency in his vindictive tri- 



116 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

umph. He bent low before him, with affected courtesy, 
as he said mockingly, " Mr. Drummond, you are very wel- 
come. I am more glad to see you than any other man in 
Virginia ; 'fore G-od ! you shall hang in half an hour ;" 
and be was hung as soon as the gallows could be prepared 
for him. Nor did Berkeley's fiendish malignity end here ; 
for he pursued the wife of Drummond with his persecu- 
tions, confiscated her property, and turned herself and five 
children out to starve ; nay, ho would have brought her to 
a felon's death had not an order from the king come in time 
to save her. 

Giles Bland hung. — How far Berkeley's passions 
would have carried him is not known, for commissioners 
arrived, appointed by the king to inquire into the condi- 
tion of things, and many pardons were issued ; but even 
these, in some instances, Berkeley dared to set aside ; as 
in the case of Giles Bland, who, you remember, was cap- 
tured on the coast of Accomac, and had ever since been 
in irons. His friends had sent over to the king, who 
granted him a special pardon, and, with this in his pocket, 
the governor sent him to the gallows. He met his fate 
with conscious innocence, and his name was afterwards 
one of the most distinguished in the annals of American 
freedom. 

Berkeley's thirst for blood seemed to increase with 
what it fed on, and as one of the Burgesses said, " He would 
have hanged half the country if he had been let alone." 
Charles II., King of England, whose father, you remember, 
perished on the scaffold, and who himself had received, 
both during his exile and after his restoration, many 
gratifying proofs of the loyalty of his subjects in Vir- 
ginia, was horror-stricken when the news of Berkeley's 
severity reached him. He said, " That old fool has 
hanged more men in that naked country than I have 
done here for the murder of my father." 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 117 

The King's Commissioners. — To such an extent 
did he carry his revenge that he succeeded in disgusting 
even the House of Burgesses, which was made up of 
creatures too much like himself to be easily touched 
with compassion. They voted an address imploring him 
not to shed any more blood, as " none could tell how, 
where, or when it would terminate." When his active 
cruelty was over Sir William Berkeley had time to note 
the change of feeling towards him in this people over 
w^hom he had ruled so acceptably for nearly forty years, 
and whose love and veneration for him had turned to 
detestation and abhorrence. Charles II., in order to put 
an end to these scenes of blood, sent over commissioners 
to Virginia, and these issued a general invitation to all 
to come and state their grievances. At once the tribunal 
was crowded with sufferers from Berkeley's cruelty. The 
widows and orphans of those who had been executed came 
weeping and invoking justice upon the head of the tyrant; 
men whose lives had been spared only to see all of their 
property confiscated, begged for bread for their wives and 
children. The commissioners applied to the governor for 
the restoration of the property of these unfortunates, but 
he had either taken it for his own use or bestowed it upon 
his favorites, and refused to give it up. 

The end of Berkeley. — That best of all books, the 
Bible, says, " Be sure your sin will find you out," and 
this was verified in the case of Sir AYilliam Berkeley, 
who, though he affected to despise the opinion of the 
people, could not help being mortified at the course the 
commissioners w^ere taking by order of the king, and 
which showed such undisguised disapproval of his con- 
duct and disregard for his wishes. At length he resolved 
to go to England and make a statement of his position 
to his Majesty, which he felt sure would reinstate him 
in the royal favor. But in this he was mistaken ; if po»- 



118 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

sible, he found fewer friends in England than he had left 
in America. The king positively refused to receive him at 
court, and the proud old man, unable to support the mor- 
tification of this blow, died a short time after his arrival 
in England. 

A Ne>v Governor. — He was succeeded in the govern- 
ment of Virginia by Herbert Jeffries, who exerted him- 
self wisely and well to restore peace to the country. 
He made a treaty with the Indians of the west, which 
unhappily they did not regard for any length of time. 
Sir Herbert Jeffries did not live long to see the fruits 
of his wise government; he was succeeded by Sir Henry 
Chicheley, who took active measures against the encroach- 
ments of the Indians, causing forts to be erected in various 
unprotected places, and in many other ways he ingratiated 
himself into the respect and affection of the people. 

Lord Culpeper. — Yery different was the course of 
Lord Culpeper, his successor. At first he was so popu- 
lar that the people voluntarily increased his salary, and 
in other ways gratified his desire for wealth ; but it very 
soon became evident that the love of gain was the ruling 
passion of his heart, and to this the advantage of the 
people over whom he ruled must give way. He received 
an immense grant of land from the king, in what is 
known as the Northern IN'eck of Virginia, which em- 
braced the territory lying between the Eappahannock 
and Potomac Eivers, as far back as the head-waters of 
the north branch of the Potomac, which lie in the Alle- 
ghany Mountains. Here a stone was afterwards planted 
called the "Fairfax Stone," and a line was drawn from 
it to the head-waters of the Rappaliannock, and all the 
territory from this line between these rivers, down to 
the Chesapeake Bay, was included in this magnificent 
present. 

When Lord Culpeper succeeded in amassing great wealth 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 119 

he had no idea of remaining in the forests of a new 
country, where he could have no enjoyment of it; so 
leaving Sir Henry Chicheley as his deputy, he returned 
to England, where he lived in great luxury at court, with- 
out spending many thoughts upon his deserted people. 

The Tobacco Rebellion. — After his departure com- 
menced what is known as the Tobacco Rebellion. I have 
told you before that from the time of its first settlement, 
tobacco was regarded as the most valuable production of 
Virginia soil. Nearly a hundred years had now passed 
away since Sir Walter Raleigh so cleverly weighed the 
smoke from his pipe of tobacco, and received the broad 
gold pieces from the hand of Queen Elizabeth of England, 
and ever since that time the demand for the fragrant 
weed had been on the increase. For a long time it was 
used as money by the colonists. Articles, instead of being 
valued at so many dollars, were sold for so many pounds 
of tobacco; and it would have looked very strangely to 
you, I suppose you will think, if you could have seen the 
wives and daughters of the old Virginia planters going 
into Jamestown on their shopping expeditions, with their 
wagon-load of tobacco behind them, and purchasing rich 
silks, linens, and laces at so much tobacco a yard. Nor 
was this all : the preachers, the lawyers, the doctors, were 
all paid for their services in tobacco. 

The thirst for Riches. — Now this did very well at 
first, but at length a change became necessar}^ You 
are all old enough to have observed the importance 
which the world places upon the possession of money. 
Some forty years ago news was brought to this country 
of great discoveries of gold in California, and the same 
fever pervaded the land which almost destroyed Captain 
Smith's colony when they thought they had found gold 
in the forest-stream : the farmer left his plough and the 
mechanic his tools, the physician his patients and the 



120 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

lawyer his courts, and all flocked to the gold-fields of 
California, and dug in the earth for the wealth which 
was more sure, if more slow, at home. The very spix'it 
which actuated men in these more modern times led the 
Yirginians, in the days of which we are now speaking, to 
devote the largest part of their time and land to raising 
this great source of wealth. At one time laws were made 
restricting the raising of tobacco and forcing the planters 
to plant corn and other crops necessary for their subsist- 
ence ; and at last, to a great degree, the custom of using it 
as money was done away with, though the salaries of the 
ministers, and some other matters of the same nature, were 
still, and for many years after, paid in tobacco. 

Action of the Burgesses. — Notwithstanding this 
change of custom in the use of tobacco, it was still a great 
source of wealth ; the people were again permitted to plant 
as much of it as- they pleased. Vessels came from Eng- 
land, and returned loaded with the precious weed. For 
many years' after the settlement of Virginia, Jamestown 
was the only town in the State ; and after it was burned, 
the necessity of some place where trade could be carried 
on was severely felt. In order to facilitate the building of 
towns, the House of Burgesses passed a law that certain 
places along the rivar-bank should be selected as the sites 
for future cities ; and in order to force the people to con- 
gregate on these particular points, the law provided that 
all ships which came to Virginia for purposes of trade 
should receive their cargoes only at the designated places, 
instead of being loaded as had heretofore been done at the 
plantations upon the river, — the idea being that the planters 
would thus be compelled to build warehouses, and other con- 
veniences, for storing their crops, and so the foundation of 
the desired cities would be laid. 

The Planters resist. — Now this plan may have been 
wisely conceived and perhaps would have been very sue- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 121 

cessfiil if it could only Lave been carried out, but this was 
the difficulty; and the veiy effort to force compliance with 
an inconvenient and unpopular law was near producing an- 
other rebellion. The planters living upon the rivers thought 
it a hard case that, instead of loading the vessels at iheir 
own doors, they should have the great inconvenience and 
expense of transporting their crops to these imaginary 
cities. The vessels w^ould often go up to the designated 
points, find no cargo ready for them, have to wait at great 
expense until it could be hauled from considerable distances, 
and, as it often happened, have to return home empty. 
Out of these inconveniences grew a disregard of the law. 
The planters w^ould load, and the captains of vessels would 
receive their cargoes, where it was most convenient ; the 
high-spirited Virginians refusing to submit to what they 
considered an innovation of their rights. 

The Law sustained. — In Gloucester County some of 
the planters, who were forcibly prevented from disposing 
of their tobacco as they pleased, fell to work and de- 
stroyed their entire crop; and their example was fol- 
lowed by many others. This looked like oj^en rebellion. 
The Assembly which had made the law, frightened at the 
storm which they had raised and found themselves unable 
to still, in their dilemma appealed to the king, who ordered 
Lord Gulpeper back to quell the disturbance. His lordship 
obeyed, in no amiable mood at being thus forced to leave the 
luxuries of the English court to contend with rebels in the 
forests of Virginia. He determined to end his exile and 
the revolt as speedily as possible. His measures were suf- 
ficientl}^ vigorous, as the jails were soon filled with pris- 
oners, and a penalty of death was proclaimed against all 
''plant-cutters." Six men were actually executed for this 
trifling misdemeanor. This summary mode of proceeding 
had the desired effect, and the planters submitted to what 
they could not cure. Thus ended the Tobacco Rebellion. 
r 11 



122 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What year heads this chapter ? 

2. What sad event occurred to put a stop to the war? 

3. How did Governor Berkeley behave? 

4. Who was the first Virginian who died on the gallows? 

5. Relate the circumstances. 

6. Did Berkeley's cruelty end here? 

7. Relate the story of Captain Wilford. 

8. Of William Drummond and his wife. 

9. Of Giles Bland. 

10. How did the Burgesses regard Berkeley's conduct? 

11. What did King Charles say about it? 

12. What did the Burgesses do? 

13. What steps did the king take to stop bloodshed? 

14. What condition of affairs did the commissioners find? 

15. What became of Berkeley? 

16. Who succeeded him, and what is related of his government? 

17. What of Sir Henry Chicheley ? 

18. What of Lord Culpeper ? 

19. Relate the circumstances which had made tobacco so largely cultivated 

in Virginia. 

20. What steps were taken to restrict its cultivation? 

21. Was it still valuable after it ceased to be used as money? 

22. How did the government try to force the building of towns ? 

23. What effect did it have? 

24. Relate the circumstances of the Tobacco Rebellion. 
26. How was it quelled ? 



CHAPTER XV. 
1684-1723. 

TREATY WITH THE FIVE NATIONS— WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE 
ESTABLISHED— PARSON BLAIR AND GOVERNOR SPOTTSWOOD— THE 
KNIGHTS OF THE HORSESHOE. 

After the Tobacco Rebellion aifairs in Virginia re- 
sumed their old routine, and for the next twenty years 
there are few incidents in the history of the colony which 
deserve more than ^ casual glance. Lord Howard, of 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 123 

Effingham, succeeded Lord Culpeper as Governor of Vir- 
ginia, and it was during his terra of office that hostilities 
with the Indians were recommenced. This was followed 
speedily by a treaty of peace with the tribes known as 
the Five Nations, who came from what is now the western 
part of the State of New York. These were the Mohawks, 
the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas ; 
and if you will glance at the map of New York, you will 
find their names in those of the cities and lakes in that 
vicinity. These Indians were generally esteemed to be the 
most powerful and dangerous tribes in North America. In 
war they were terrific, and united the cunning and sagacity 
of the savage to the skill of civilized nations. Even the 
English, with all their knowledge of the art of war, found 
it difficult to deal with them, and the rumor of their ad- 
vance was always received with horror and consternation. 

A writer of the times, in describing them, says, " They 
advanced like foxes, attacked like lions, and retreated like 
birds." They had subdued all other Indian tribes and 
united them with themselves, and were extending their 
power even into Southern Virginia. 

Treaty of Peace with the Indians. — The colonies of 
the difi'erent provinces became alarmed, and Governor How- 
ard, of Virginia, and Governor Dungan, of New York, met 
at Albany the chiefs of these several tribes, and after com- 
plaining of their aggressions and acts of cruelty, threatened 
to retaliate unless they would make a firm treaty of peace 
with the whites, but if they would consent to the terms 
laid down in this treaty, the chain of friendship was to be 
brightened and made more strong and lasting than ever. 
An orator of the Mohawks replied in a speech full of the 
figures for which their language is remarkable. He prom- 
ised that the peace between themselves and the English 
should be firmly kept ; and then, after the manner of their 
people, they buried five axes, in token of the burial of 



124 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



etrife ; after which ail the Indian tribes united lu singing 
the peace-song, with demonstrations of much joy, and 
thanked the Grovernor of New York for his mediation 
with the Governor of Virginia in their behalf 

William and Mary. — The following year there was 
another change in the government of England. Charles 
II. died, and was succeeded by his brother, James II., — the 
first Eoman Catholic sovereign who had sat upon the Eng- 




TREATY OF THE FIVE NATIONS. 



lish throne since Mary, the sister of Queen Elizabeth. For 
reasons which have no bearing upon the historj- of Vir- 
ginia, the English expelled him from the throne after he 
had been kin<x only two and a half years. He was suc- 
ceeded by William, Prince of Orange, and his wife Mary, 
who took possession of the throne under the title of 
^' William and Mary." 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 125 

A Virginia College. — The next year Francis Nicholson 
was appointed governor of Virginia. During his term of 
service, the King and Queen of England granted to Vir- 
ginia a charter for the establishment of a college in that 
province. This was a very important advance in the inter- 
ests of Virginia. It had heretofore been the custom to send 
the young men of the colony to England to be educated ; 
but Governor Nicholson, upon his introduction into office, 
suggested the idea of a Virginia college, and put his own 
signature at the head of a subscription-paper for the pur- 
pose. In a very little time, with the assistance of some 
merchants in London, twenty-five hundred pounds were 
subscribed, and the Virginia Assembly sent "Parson Blair" 
to England to solicit a charter from the king. He was 
successful, and the foundation of the college was laid at 
Middle Plantation, where, you remember. Bacon and his 
men held their deliberations after the burning of James- 
town. The town was called Williamsbui-g, in honor of 
the king, and the newly-founded college was called Wil- 
liam and Mary. The streets of the city were laid out so 
as to form the letters W and M, — a handsome compliment 
to the joint sovereigns of England, but a most inconvenient 
device for a city. 

Mr. Blair was appointed the first president of the col- 
lege, which became the pride of Virginia. It is the oldest 
college in the United States, except Harvard, in Massachu- 
setts. The seat of government was removed to Williams- 
burg, which thus became the centre, not only of learning, 
but of the wealth and fashion of Virginia. In 1706 the 
college was burned to the ground, and many years elapsed 
before it was rebuilt. 

Governor Spottswood. — Years now rolled quietly 
away, marking only increased prosperity to Virginia. 
William and Mary passed from an earthly throne to give 
an account of their stewardship in the courts of heaven, 

11* 



126 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

and Anne, the sister of Mary, succeeded her. It was 
during her reign that a gentleman was appointed gov- 
ernor whose name Virginia will always cherish with grati- 
tude. Alexander Spottswood, a Scotchman, who had dis- 
tinguished himself in the British army, left the hardships 
and honors of the battle-field to fill the office of chief 
executive in Virginia. He did more for the improvement 
of the province than any of his predecessors. 

His Plans. — Contemplating the wide-spread territory 
before him, and his imagination fired at the thought of broad 
lands, mountains, and rivers which were as yet unexplored, 
the desire filled him to signalize his term of service by 
extending his knowledge of this great country. Accord- 
ingly he formed a scheme for the furtherance of his de- 
sign, and presented himself before the General Assembly 
of Virginia, and desired its assistance in his plan, which 
was to head an expedition across the " Appalachian chain 
of mountains," as the AUegbanies were then called. After 
some discussion, he succeeded in obtaining its consent, and 
a promise was given to furnish him with ample means to 
carry out his design. 

His Expedition. — As soon as it became known that 
Governor Spottswood was organizing an expedition for 
the purpose of new discoveries, he had no difficulty in 
filling up the ranks of his little army ; and soon a gal- 
lan-t array of cavaliers presented themselves, eager to 
share in an enterprise which promised so much varietj^, 
honor, and increase of wealth, with enough sprinkling of 
danger to make it all the moi*e attractive to the bold Vir- 
ginians. The hardiest horses in the country were pressed 
into service, and soon the streets of Williamsburg presented 
a busy scene as the gay cavalcade, with the governor at its 
bead, started forth with their faces turned towards the dis- 
tant mountains. 

The Start. — In our day, when genius and energy have 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 127 

cut their way through these very mountains, have made 
the sea their servant, and have even linked continents 
together with the aid of the telegraphic wire, it is difficult 
to realize what a formidable undertaking it was to attempt 
the passage of the mountains, which, for the hundred and 
more years which had elapsed since the first settlement of 
Virginia, had reared their lofty forms as a barrier to the 
progress of the white man. It seemed like an attempt to 
conquer nature itself; but the romance and peril of the 
attempt acted as a stimulus to the governor and his fol- 
lowers, who fondly imagined that their names would go 
down to posterity side by side with that of the great 
Alexander. They crossed the York River, and started 
merrily upon their journey ; stopping at night with friends 
upon the route, and gathering recruits for their little army 
as they went along. 

Upon the Rappahannock, not far from where Fred- 
ericksburg now stands, they encamped for some days, and 
regaled themselves with the abundant provisions which 
had been provided by the loving housewives at home, and 
brought with the party upon pack-horses. We can well 
imagine the merry encampment, where great fires were 
kindled, and venison and bear's meat roasted for the lux- 
urious repast, and toasts drank, and the laugh, the song, 
and the jest awoke new echoes in those forest haunts. 

Passage of the Mountains. — So leisurely did they 
proceed that more than a month elapsed before they com- 
menced the toilsome ascent of the mountains. Think of 
them as they wound along through the trackless country 
which the foot of the white man was treading for the 
first time*; now over rocks and chasms, now pausing to 
catch through the openings in the trees a glimpse of the 
country beyond, and now mingling their voices with the 
sound of the trumpet that rang for the first time through 
these old mountains. When at length they gained the 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



summit, their ecstasy was too deep for words ; they fairly 
drank into their souls the beauty of the panorama which 
lay spread before them. The glorious Valley of Virginia, 
smiling in the freshness of early summer, met their gaze ; 







KNIGHTS OP THE HORSESHOE DRINKING THE KIXG S HEALTH. 



the streams^ as if wearied with their dash down the moun- 
tain-sides, w^ound quietly and calmly along like silver 
threads until they were lost in the misty distance. 

The Expedition returns. — Upon the top of the moun- 
tain they drank the health of his Majesty, and called it 
Mount George, in honor of him. The next peak they 
named Mount Alexander, after the governor. Descend- 
ing the mountain, they crossed the Shenandoah River, 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 1J9 

which they playfully named Euphrates. On its banks 
they rested for some hours, or beguiled the time by hunt- 
ing, fishing, and feasting. Some carved their names on 
the trees; some, more ambitious, climbed the steep sides 
of the rocks and tried to carve imperishable memorials 
upon their granite surfaces ; and the governor wrote upon 
a sheet of paper, " I take possession of this countrj^ in the 
name of his Majesty King George of England," and sign- 
ing his name upon it, enclosed it in a bottle and buried it 
on the banks of tb'^ river. I never heard that this inter- 
esting record of the journey had been found, and in all 
probability it still remains buried to this day. Turning 
their faces homeward, they reached Williamsburg in 
safety, after an absence of about six weeks, and dispers- 
ing to their different habitations, recounted to eager lis- 
teners their adventures in this the first expedition across 
the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. 

Knights of the Horseshoe. — The Virginians had been 
accustomed to ride their horses unshod, the soft sandy 
soil of the lowlands requiring no protection for the horse's 
hoofs ; but for the trip to the mountains they had provided 
a quantity of horseshoes. In allusion to this circumstance 
and as a memorial of the expedition, the governor, upon 
his return, gave to each of his companions a miniature 
golden horseshoe, to be worn upon the breast. King 
George, when he heard of the expedition, bestowed upon 
Spottswood the honors of knighthood, and also presented 
him with a golden horseshoe set with jewels, which is said 
to be still in possession of one of his descendants. All who 
took part in the expedition were recognized by the title of 
" Knights of the Horseshoe." 

Governor Spottswood' s administration was marked 
by the steady prosperity of Virginia ; he neglected nothing 
which could minister to this end. He attempted what was 
neglected by most of the other governors, — namely, the im- 



130 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

provement of the Indians. He sent good men among them 
to teach them the arts of civilization, and even had some 
of the Indian boys admitted to William and Mary Col- 
lege, to be instructed in whatever would conduce to their 
advancement. 

Blackbeard the Pirate. — During his administration 
the shores of America were infested with pirates, who 
captured vessels going to and from the country, and per- 
petrated acts of the most terrible cruelty. One of the 
most distinguished of these pirates was known as Black- 
beard, and his ferocity made him the terror of the seas. 
The stories that are told of this fiend in human form 
almost exceed belief He is said, on one occasion, to have 
dressed up his crew to personate devils, and he himself 
represented the chief fiend. 

His Defeat and Death. — Many unavailing efforts were 
made to capture Blackbeard ; Governor Spottswood offered 
large rewards for his person living or dead. Hearing defi- 
nitely of his whereabouts, Lieutenant Maynard, commander 
of a small English ship-of-war, started in search of him. 
He found him lying in wait at one of the inlets to Pimlico 
Sound, and at once bore down upon him without giving 
him time to escape. Blackbeard discovering the ship-of- 
war close to him, made preparations for battle, p'aced 
one of his men at the powder-magazine with orders to 
blow it up if there was danger uf capture, and drank 
brand}' until he was ready for any reckless deed whatso- 
ever ; and so the fight began. A terrible one it was, and 
the pirate was defeated ; the wretch, covered with wounds, 
waited until the English boarded his vessel, and then 
gave orders to blow up the magazine, intending that his 
captors should share his destruction. But he was disap- 
pointed ; the couraii^e of his man failed, and he threw down 
the fatal match. Blackbeard sprang up, his face distorted 
with anger, cocked his pistol and aimed it at the delinquent, 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 131 

but before he could fire it off he fell back on the deck and 
expired. 

Spottsylvania. — Although Governor Spottsvvood was so 
much beloved by the people of Virginia, yet he fell under 
the displeasure of the British Ministry, who did all they 
could to thwart his plans for the good of the colony, and at 
length removed him from office. He retired to his country- 
seat in the county, which was called in his honor '- Spott- 
sylvania," and there dispensed a generous hospitality, of 
which some pleasant stories are told. 

The Deer's Assault.— An old friend of his, Colonel 
William Byrd, who went to visit him, describes the town 
of Germanna, which he says consists " of Colonel Spotts- 
wood's enchanted castle on one side of the street and a 
baker's dozen of ruinous tenements on the other side; 
there was also a chapel about a bow's-shot from the gov- 
ernor's house, at the end of an avenue of cherry-trees." 
When he arrived he found only Mrs. Spottswood at home. 
She received him with a gracious smile, and took him into 
the dining-room, which among other handsome furniture 
contained several costly mirrors, and where also the hos- 
pitable tea-table was laid to which she invited her visitor. 
Mrs. Spottswood had amused herself in her solitude by 
taming a variety of animals, among them a brace of 
deer, which ran familiarly about the house. One of them 
coming to the door to stare at the visitor, caught sight of 
his own figure in the mirror opposite, and mistaking it for 
one of his companions, sprang over the tea-table, shattered 
the glass into a thousand pieces, then fell back upon the 
table, making a terrible clatter among the china and silver, 
and frightening the guest considerably ; but Colonel Byrd 
adds, after telling the story, that it was worth all the lost 
china to see the moderation and good-humor with which 
the hostess bore this disaster. 

In the evening the old governor came in, and they spent 



13!^ HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

the hours until bedtime in recounting old stories, of which 
probably the expedition across the mountains formed part. 
The next morning they visited his iron founderies, of which 
he was very proud. 

In this peaceful retreat Governor Spottswood closed his 
life in the year 1739. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What is the date of these events ? 

2. Who was Governor of Virginia after Lord Culpeper ? 

3. What important treaty did he assist in making ? 

4. Who were the Five Nations, and where did they live ? 
6. How do the writers of the times describe them? 

6. Tell of the treaty. 

7. What important changes took place in the English government ? 

8. Who did King William appoint Gov.ernor of Virginia? 

9. What important privilege did he solicit for Virginia ? 

10. What steps did he take to accomplish his purpose? 

11. With what success? 

12. Tell of the foundation and name of the new college. 

13. What happened to it in 1706 ? 

14. Who was appointed governor by Queen Anne? 

15. What of him? 

16. What scheme did he devise? 

17. What steps did he take for accomplishing his purpose? 

18. How does the attempt look to. us now, and why ? 

19. Tell of the journey. 

20. What names did they give the mountain peaks ? 

21. Tell the rest of the story. 

22. What were the adventurers called, and why ? 

23. What other improvements did Governor Spottswood undertake? 

24. What infested the shores of Virginia ? 

25. Who was Blackbeard? 

26. What steps did the governor take for his apprehension? 

27. Tell of Maynard's expedition. 

28. Tell of Blackbcard's death. 

29. Why was Governor Spottswood removed from office ? 

30. Tell of Colonel Byrd's visit to Mn<. Spottswood. 

31. Where did the governor die, and when ? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 133 

CHAPTEK XYI. 
1723. — Continued. 

DIFFICULTIES BETWEEN THE COLONIES-COLONEL WILLIAM BYRD 
LAYS THE FOUNDATION OF RICHMOND AND OF PETERSBURG- 
SETTLEMENTS IN THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA— EARLY CUSTOMS. 

Hugh Drysdale was appointed governor in the place of 
Governor Spottswood. His administration was a short one, 
and devoid of interest. Colonel William Gooch, one of the 
best governors of whom Virginia can boast, succeeded him. 

About this time the colonies in North America began 
to draw more closely together ; heretofore their govern- 
ments had been almost as distinct as those of England, 
France, and Germany, but now they began to feel their 
dependence upon each other. New York, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia were 
like a band of young sisters, bound together by ties of a 
common interest, and united for purposes of self-defence, 
though their governments were still distinct. 

A Colony Quarrel. — During the administration of 
Governor Gooch a quarrel arose between the neighboring 
colonies of Virginia and North Carohna about their boun- 
daries, each claiming a tract of land lying upon their bor- 
ders ; and for a long time persons living upon this "disputed 
territory did not know which colony to claim as their home. 
This led to many difficulties, as some would pay taxes to 
North Carolina which Virginia claimed, and then just the 
other way. At last it was determined to settle the mattei* 
before the disagreement became too serious to be cured ; so 
the governors of the two colonies each appointed commis- 
sioners to meet and travel through the country with en- 
gineers, and run the line over again straight, so there could 
be no further mistake. 

12 



134 HISTORV OF VlRGiyiA. 

Colonel Byrd. — At the head of the Yirginia Commis- 
sion was Colonel William Byrd, a gentleman of great dis- 
tinction and originality. He has left a narrative of his 
adventures, which is full of interest, in which he tells 
many amusing stories, besides giving us a picture of the 
settlements in that part of the country in these early 
days. Many of these are valuable contributions to the 
history of the State. 

Richmond and Petersburg founded.— The most last- 
ing memorial, however, w^hich he has left is the city of Rich- 
mond, of which he laid the foundation ; also of Petersburg, 
about the same time. It was expected that these two cities, 
one at the head of navigation on the James River, and the 
other on the Appomattox, would become great centres for 
the trade of Yirginia, as the two rivers upon Avhich they 
were situated constituted convenient outlets into Chesa 
peake Bay. 

Settlements now began to be made in the beautiful 
Valley of Virginia. From Pennsylvania came a number 
of Scotch-Irish settlers, who, in consequence of religious 
persecution in their own country, emigrated from the 
north of Ireland to America, and had at first fixed their 
homes in that colony, but finding the fertile fields of the 
Valley open to their occupation, they moved onward and 
took possession. William Penn had so wisely conciliated 
the Indians in Pennsylvania by buying their lands and in 
other ways, that they regarded him as a benefactor, and 
this movement into the Valley was not interrupted by 
them. The new settlers also proposed buying the lands 
as William Penn had done ; this they did to some extent, 
but a serious difficulty arose. The Valley was looked 
upon as a common hunting-ground, and no tribe could 
be found who claimed it as their particular property. A 
number of families, headed by Joist Hite, obtained a 
grant for forty thousand acres of land, which they lo- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 135 

cated in the lower part of the Valley of the Shenan- 
doah ; and having settled on it, gradually extended their 
settlements up the Valley to a point near the spot where 
the town of Woodstock now stands. Two small houses 
were erected on Avhat was known as Shawnee Spring, the 
present site of the city of Winchester, which was after- 
wards the frontier outpost for the settlers in that part 
of the Valley. 

Burden's Grant— The reports brought back by Gov- 
ernor Spottswood and his party about the Valley reaching 
the ears of two newly-arrived emigrants to Virginia, named 
John Mackey and John Lewis, they visited it with a pedler 
named Sailing, and so delighted were they that the three 
determined to fix their abode there. John Lewis obtained 
a grant of a hundred thousand acres of land, which he lo- 
cated in this Valley, and was visited in his mountain home 
by an agent of Lord Fairfax named Burden, w^ho spent 
some months in hunting through the forests. Eeturning 
to Williamsburg, Burden presented Governor Gooch with 
a young buffalo calf which he had captured, and in return the 
governor gave him a grant for five hundred thousand acres of 
land in the Valley, upon condition that within ten years he 
would settle upon it one hundred families ; and if this was 
accomplished, he should have one thousand acres in the 
neighborhood of every house. Burden returned to England 
for emigrants,and the next year, 1737, brought over upwards 
of one hundred families to settle upon the granted lands. 
The first party were soon joined by others, mostly of their 
connections and acquaintances in the mother country. These 
again drewothers after them; and theyall increased and mul- 
tiplied, until before the first generation had passed away the 
land was filled with them, and then they began to send forth 
colonies to new lands, southward and westward, until now 
their descendants are scattered over the whole country. 
Scotch Settlers. — His grant covered a greater part of 



136 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Eockbridge County, and was settled by the McDowells, 
Alexanders, Paxtons, and many other names of which 
Virginia knows the worth. They were mostly Scotch 
Presbyterians, and were distinguished for their simplicity 
and integrity. They devoted themselves to agricultural 
pursuits, built churches, and in the enjoyment of religious 
freedom and home duties they passed their simple lives. 
Thus was the whole Valley of Virginia settled. 

Nearly twenty years passed away before the set- 
tlers had any difficulty with the Indians, though the Dela- 
wares and Catawbas were engaged in a war at the time 
the Valley was first known, and this continued many 
years afterwards. Many signs are now found through- 
out the Valley of the furious contests between these two 
powerful tribes. It was one of the customs of the Indians 
to bmy their dead, not in single graves, but in mounds, 
and some of these mounds have been found which are 
eighteen or twenty feet high and fifty or sixty feet wide. 

Customs of the People. — It was fortunate for the 
new settlers in Virginia that their savage neighbors were 
so deeply engaged in their own aff'airs that the colonies 
had time to grow^ without interruption, and were in some 
degree able to defend themselves when defence became 
necessary. Some of the customs of these early inhabit- 
ants of the Valley of Virginia were curious; most of 
them were derived from the Germans. I will tell you 
about their marriage ceremony. 

Marriage Festivities. — A wedding, then as now, ex- 
cited the attention of the whole neighborhood. It was 
celebrated at the house of the bride, and was almost the 
only frolic which their lives of hard labor allowed. On 
the morning of the wedding-day, the groom and his four 
attendants met at his residence and proceeded towards that 
of the bride, which they were obliged to reach by noon, that 
being the hour at which the ceremony was generally per- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 137 

formed. Then the fun began, and all the neighbors joined 
in it. The groom and his party found the narrow roads 
obstructed by fallen trees and grape-vines tied across the 
way, and these they must stop and remove. Next they 
were ambuscaded, and a discharge of guns enveloped them 
in smoke. But in spite of these interruptions, the groom 
coiild not be behindhand, and the hour of noon would 
generally find him at the appointed place. The bridal- 
party proper consisted of the bride and groom ; four 
groomsmen, dressed in moccasins, leather breeches, leg- 
gings, and linsey hunting-shirts, all home-made ; the ladies 
were dressed in linsey petticoats, with linsey or linen 
gowns over them, coarse shoes, coarse e'.ockings, cotton 
handkerchiefs, and buckskin gloves. If the ceremony 
took place at the church, the whole party — mounted on 
horses caparisoned with old saddles, old bridles, and a 
blanket or bag thrown over them^would have to encoun- 
ter the same obstructions in their pathway to matrimony, 
placed there by their fun-loving neighbors. 

Running for the Bottle. — After the ceremony was 
performed they Avould return home, and the way thither 
was beguiled by various amusements, one of which I will 
tell you about. It was called "running for the bottle." 
A big bottle, which was named " Black Bettie," was filled 
with whiskey and placed at some designated point (gener- 
ally at the house of the bride) on the road ; then two 
young men, mounted on their horses, would run a race foi 
this prize, taking an even start, which was announced by 
an .Indian whoop. Off they would go, their horses at full 
speed, dashing over rocks, stumps, and an}^ other impedi- 
ments. The victor announced his success by another yell, 
and- then returned to the company, holding the bottle high 
above his head. It was presented first to the bride, who 
must at least taste it, then to the groom, and then to each 
of the party, no one being allowed to refuse to take a drink. 

12* 



138 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

The Wedding Dinner. — Immediately after arriving: at 
the house, dinner, for which literally the fatted calf had 
been killed, was announced, and a most substantial meal it 
was, consisting of beef, pork, fowls, bear's meat, venison, 




RUNNING FOR THE BOTTLE. 



bread, butter, hone\', maple-sugar, wine (if it could be had), 
potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. These were set 
out on old pewter dishes and plates, wooden bowls, and 
trenchers; if knives were scarce, the guests made use of 
the scalping-knife which each man wore in the belt of his 
hunting-shirt. During the meal the greatest hilarity pre- 
vailed. The younger part of the company attempted to 
steal the bride's shoe ; the four groomsmen were obliged 
to guard her, and he who failed to do so was obliged to 
pay a forfeit for the redemption of the shoe, and the bride 
was not permitted to dance until it was restored. Next 
came the ceremony of throwing the stocking. A stocking 
was rolled in a ball and given to each of the young ladies 
in turn, who, standing with her back to the bride, threw 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 139 

it over her shoulder, and the first who succeeded in strik- 
ing the bride's head was the next to be married. The 
young men then went through the same ceremony, only 
throwing it at the groom's head. The dancing, which was 
kept ujD often through the whole night, consisted of jigs, 
reels, and square dances; and if any of the company, 
through weariness, attempted to conceal himself for the 
purpose of sleeping, the luckless wMght was dragged out 
upon the floor, and the fiddler ordered to play " Hang out 
till morning." 

These festivities were sometimes kept up for a week 
or more, until the revellers, perfectly exhausted, had to 
claim several days of rest before they were fit for their 
employments. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. AYhat is the date of these evenfs? 

2. Who succeeded Governor Spottswood ? 

3. What relations existed between Virginia and her sister colonies? 

4. What dispute arose between Virginia and North Carolina ? 
6. Who was then governor of Virginia ? 

6. How was the dispute settled? 

7. Who was Colonel Byrd? 

8. What two cities did he found ? 

9. Give an account of the settlements in the lower Valley. 

10. What settlements were made by Mackey, Lewis, and Sailing? 

11. Tell of Burden's visit to Lewis. 

12. What present did he make to the governor, and how was he rewarded? 

13. To what trick did he resort, and with what success ? 

14. What portion of the Valley did is grant cover? 

15. What was the character of the settlers upon it ? 

16. What of the Indian tribes in the Valley of Virginia? 

17. Did they molest the early settlers? 

18. Tell the manner in which a marriage was conducted among the earlj 

settlers. 

19. What of the feast? 



140 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



CHAPTEE XYIL 
1732-1755. 

BIRTH OF GEORGE WASHINGTON-INCIDENTS OF HIS EARLY LIFE- 
UNSUCCESSFUL MISSION TO THE FRENCH-WAR WITH THE FRENCH 
BEGUN. 

Birth of Washington. — On the 22d day of February, 
1732, in the county of Westmoreland, was born George 
Washington, who, from the place he holds in the history 
of the United States, but especially in that of Virginia, 




[RTHPLACE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



merits more than ordinary mention in these pages. He 
was the son of Augustine AVashington and Mary Ball, 
both by birth Virginians. When be was about five years 
old, his father removed to Stafford County ; and upon the 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 141 

banks of the Eappahannock, nearly opposite Fredericks- 
burg, the childhood of George Washington was passed. 

He received only a plain English education, his 
first schoolmaster being an old sexton named Hobby, who 
lived to see the renown of his pupil, and used to boast that 
the foundation of George Washington's greatness was laid 
between his knees. But it is far more likely that the wise 
counsels and good example of his father had more to do 
with the formation of the character of the future patriot 
than the ABC teachings of old Hobby. " Truth, George," 
said his good father to him one day, " is the loveliest quality 
of youth. I would ride fifty miles, my son, to see the little 
boy whose heart was so honest, and his lips so pure, that I 
could depend on every word he says." 

His School-Life. — With such nurture of the tender 
shoot, it is no wonder that the tree spread out great 
branches. Young Washington seems to have taken a 
position among his companions at an early age, as one 
whose word could be depended upon. His father died 
when he was ten years old, but he never lost the impres- 
sion made upon him by his teachings; on the contrary, 
they seemed to grow with his growth and strengthen with 
his strength. He went to school in Westmoreland County, 
to a Mr. Williams ; and here he was distinguished for his 
skill in athletic sports, running, jumping, and wrestling, 
he showing great disdain for such tame games as tops and 
marbles. 

Mimic Warfare. — It is told of him that, when he was 
only in his eleventh year, he gave evidence of military 
talent. He used to divide his school-fellows into two par- 
ties, one of which he called French and the other American. 
The French were commanded by a big boy named William 
Bustle ; George himself commanded the Americans ; and 
every day, at recess, the little armies would seize their 
corn-stalk muskets and calabash drums, and turn out to 



14:^ HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

fight their mimic battles with great fur3^ At the age 
of sixteen he left school and obtained a situation as sur- 
veyor for Lord Fairfax, who owned all the land in what 
is called the Northern Neck of Virginia, lying between the 
Eappahannock and Potomac Rivers, and from the Chesa- 
peake Bay back to the Alleghany Mountains. This tract 
was first granted to Lord Culpeper, ibrmer G-overnor of 
Virginia, and inherited by Lord Fairfax from his uncle, 
Lord Culpeper. 

Washington remained in this employment until his 
twentieth year ; working hard as a woodsman, and spend- 
ing his leisure hours in athletic sports with his young 
companions, the Stevenses and Crawfords. Such was his 
phj^sical training; and his heart seems to have been 
equally well disciplined, for he always retained tiie tender- 
est feelings towards the companions of his youth. It is 
said that he received an appointment on a British man-of- 
w^ar, and his trunk was actually on board ; but when he 
came to take leave of his weeping mother, who told him 
her heart was breaking, he declined the appointment and 
stayed at home to gratify her. 

From this time he seems to have imbibed a passion for 
military life, and s])ent his leisure time in practising mili- 
tary tactics ; and attracted so much attention bj' the skill 
he manifested in all military arts, that when he left the 
service of Lord P^airfax he was appointed adjutant-general 
of the Virginia forces on the Northern Neck, who were 
training for service against the Indians. Here his history 
becomes involved with other events, which I must pause 
to relate. 

The French and English. — You remember that, when 
the first colonists came to this continent, England claimed, 
by right of discovery, the entire country stretching in 
length from Canada to the southern border of North 
Carolina, and in breadth from the Atlantic to the Pacific 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 143 

Ocean. Now, if you will look at your maps, you will see 
what a i^reat extent of territory this comprises, and that 
the Mississippi River cuts it in two, and with its tributaries 
w^aters all this country, as well as that to the south of it. 
It is true that England had no idea of the immense territory 
she was claiming ; nevertheless her title to it all was con- 
sidered perfect. 

The French, however, with their possessions in Canada 
as a stronghold, were disputing this title vigorously. About 
seventy years after Captain Smith planted his colony in 
Virginia, one of the French Jesuit missionaries, sailing 
down the AYisconsin River in an open boat, entered the 
Mississippi, and sailing past the mouths of the Ohio and 
Missouri Rivers, claimed the whole country watered by the 
Mississippi and its tributaries in the name of his sovereign, 
not knowing or not caring that the English had a prior 
claim. 

Nine years after the expedition of the Jesuit mission- 
ary, another Frenchman, named La Salle, descended the 
Mississippi River to its mouth, and named the surrounding 
country Louisiana after his sovereign Louis. The posses- 
sion of this country was never disputed by the English, as 
it was not within the boundaries of their claim ; but as 
time went on, and the English settlements were pushed 
back towards the Mississij^pi, it became a contested matter 
Avhether the English or the French should own the magnifi- 
cent country which was watered by the Mississippi and its 
tributaries. Many years before this time. Governor Spotts- 
wood had advised the English government to send companies 
to explore this splendid country, to make English settle- 
ments, and to build forts along the Ohio River for their pro- 
tection. Had he been listened to a bloody war might have 
been averted; but he was not, and the colony of Virginia 
had now to suffer the consequences of the disregard with 
which his warninirs had been treated. 



14-4 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

French Treaties with the Indians. — The Indians 
with whom the American colonists came in contact were 
divided into many tribes, but all belonged to about three 
families, and these families in time of trouble united their 
strength. The Algonquins in Canada had for their con- 
federates the New England tribes, the Susquehannas in 
the south, and some tribes in the west ; then there were 
the Creeks and Cherokees, belonging to the Mobillians 
in the South ; but the most powerful of all the three 
were the Iroquois, who comprised the famous Five Na- 
tions, of whom I have already told you. These formed 
a powerful confederacy which held sway over the others ; 
the Algonquins paid tribute to them for many years, 
but the French formed an alliance with the Algonquins 
and helped them to rebel against the Iroquois, and so 
gained their bitter enmity ; and it was the continual war- 
fare which these powerful tribes kept up which at last pre- 
vented the rapid advance of the French upon the English 
possessions, and secured to us final conquest. Information 
reached Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, that the French 
had made treaties with all the western tribes of Indians, 
and were building forts on the Ohio River, which they in- 
tended to claim ; and Governor Dinwiddie, after trying 
other means, determined to send a message to the com- 
mander on the Ohio to remonstrate against his encroach- 
ments, and to warn him that if he did not at once with- 
draw his forces he would compel him to do so. But a 
difficulty arose as to who would be the bearer of this 
message through trackless forests where the silence of 
nature had never been broi<en save by the Indian war- 
whoop and the roar of wild beasts, where dangers known 
and unknown must beset every step. 

Washington's Perilous Journey. — Dinwiddie did not 
have long to wait for a messenger. Young George Wash- 
ington, hearing of the difficulty, at once presented himself 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 145 

to the governor and tendered his services. They were 
gladly accei^ted ; and the next day, which was the 31st 
of October, 1753, he left Williamsburg, and passed through 
Fredericksburg up the Potomac to Alexandria, thence over 
the mountains to Winchester, and thence again to the point 
on the Potomac where the city of Cumberland now stands, 
beyond which there w^as no European settlement. 

The prospect before him w^ould have daunted any 
heart less brave than his own, but Washington did not 
linger long enough to think of the dangers of the way. 
The firmness which his early education had imparted to 
his character now displayed itself. At the head of his 
little party, over the snow-crowned Alleghanies, he slowly 
and cautiously made his way. How the journey was ac- 
complished has ever since been a wonder to all. In the 
middle of winter, through difficulties of which language can 
convey no idea, our young hero pushed on. They crossed 
the large rivers on rafts, and had to fell trees across the 
rapid mountain torrents. At length they reached the 
point where the Monongahela and Alleghany Eivers unite 
and form the Ohio; it was a beautiful country, and the 
keen eye of Washington at once fixed upon it as a most 
important position for a fort. Twenty miles farther on 
lie again paused, and collecting as many of the Indian 
braves as he could, made them a speech, in which he told 
them the object of his mission and asked their assistance. 
He was answered by a young Indian king, from whom he 
learned that his people were not unwilling to assist in put~ 
ting a stop to the progress of the French, as they were 
beginning to view their movements with apprehension and 
jealousy. 

After resting a few days, Washington again set out 

on his journey for the head-quarters of the French, which 

was about one hundred and twenty miles from the Ohio 

Eiver. The young Indian king and three of his men ac- 

Q k 13, 



146 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

companied bim. By perseverance they at length reached 
the place, and were courteously received by the French 
commander, St. Pierre. Washington presented Governor 
Dinwiddle's letter; St. Pierre, in rej^ly, said that the mat- 
ter must be decided by the Governor of Canada ; 'his duty 
was simply to obey orders, v/hich obliged him to maintain 
his present position ; and with this unsatisfactory answer, 
Washington was forced to return. We will not follow his 
course back. He reached Williamsburg about the middle 
of January, after an absence of only tw^o months and a 
half, and delivered his message to Governor Dinwiddib. 
It was decisive; war between the English and French 
was at once declared. 

The service of the young officer in this expedition 
was highly appreciated. Going into the House of Burgesses 
one day, he took his seat in the gallery just in time to hear 
Speaker Eobertson say, " Gentlemen, it is proposed that the 
thanks of this House be given to Major Washington, who 
now sits in the gallery, for the very gallant manner in 
which he has executed the important trust lately imposed 
on him by his Excellency Governor Dinwiddle." In a mo- 
ment the House rose as one man, and turning towards the 
blushing young officer, saluted him ; he tried to reply, but 
so completely confounded was this young hero, who had 
not feared to encounter the dangers of the American forest, 
that he stood blushing like a'girl as this the first leaf In his 
crown of laurel was placed on his head. At last he found 
voice to articulate faintly, "Mr. Speaker — Mr. Speaker!' 
and then was silent. Old Speaker Eobertson called out to 
him, laughingly, ''Major Washington — Major Washington, 
sit down, your modesty alone is equal to your merit.'' 

Washington's First Command. — As soon as the news 
reached England of tiie unsuccessful mission of Washing- 
ton to the French, orders were issued by the British Min- 
i&tvy for the colonists to arm and unite in repelling the 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



147 



aggressions of the French. Virginia raised two companies 
of one hundred men each, and placed them under the com- 
mand of Washington, who, in obedience to orders, early in 
April marched towards the fork of the Ohio, to complete 




WASHINGTON RECEIVING THE THANKS OF THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES. 

the erection of a fort which had been commenced some 
time before. He here joined Colonel Fry, who assumed 
command. Before they reached there, however, they 
heard that the fort had been surrendered to the French, 
with a quantity of valuable property and a large body of 



148 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

men. This was the first open act of hostility on the part 
of the French. 

His Success. — Upon hearing this news, Washington 
moved slowly forward, intending to be guided in his 
course by any circumstances of which he could take ad- 
vantage. He had many difficulties to encounter, with the 
Indians particularly. At one time, as he w^as making his 
way down the mountain, his Indian guides refused to go 
any farther without reward, and he was obliged to promise 
them his coat and his ruffled shirt at the end of the journey. 
At length the opportunity to meet the enemy, for which 
he had so ardently longed, presented itself, as his Indian 
scouts reported quite a large body of Frencli approaching 
with apparently hostile intentions, and these the young 
officer determined to anticipate. Guided by friendly In- 
dians, among whom Avas the young half-king Tanacha- 
risen, who gave many proofs of affection and fidelity, 
Washington, after dividing his men into two parties, 
marched under cover of a very dark night in the direc- 
tion of tiie valley in which the enemy were encamped, 
and before morning dawned the French commander awoke 
to the consciousness that he was completely surrounded. 
There was a rush to arms, but it was too late, and the 
whole party were forced to surrender, which they did not 
do until they had lost their commander and ten men. 
This was the first blood shed in the war between the 
French and Eno-lish.* 



■to- 



QUESTIONS rOK EXAMINATION. 

1. When and where was George Washington born? 

2. Relate the circumstances of his early life. 

3. What was the real foundation of his honest character? 

* I would advise teachers to make the pupils study these lessons with the 
aid of maps, as it is important that they should have a proper idea of these 
looalities. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 149 

4. Relate the story of his school-dnys. 

6. What place did he till when he left school? 

6. Where is the Northern Neck of Virginia, and to whom was it granted? 

7. How long did he act as surveyor to Lord Fairfax ? 

8. What proof of filial love did he give? 

9. What situation did he next receive? 

10. Point out on your map the territory claimed by England. 

11. What great river cuts this in two and waters it ? 

12. Where were the French possessions? 

13. What circumstances led them to claim this country? ■ 

14. Of what portion of the country did La Salle take possession, and what 

did he name it? 

15. What difficulties arose out of these French claims? 

16. What advice had Governor Spottswood once given upon this subject? 

17. What news reached Governor Dinwiddie ? 

18. What step did he determine upon? 

19. Who was chosen as messenger ? 

20. What course did Washington pursue? 

21. Relate the circumstances of his journey. 

22. Tell of his interview with the friendly Indians. 

23. Next his interview with the French officer. 

24. Of his return home. 

25. Of his appearance in the House of Burgesses. 

26. How was the news of French aggressions received in England? 

27. What position was given to Washington ? 

28. To what point did he direct his course? 

29. What condition of things did he find ? 

30. What course did he pursue next ? 

31. Tell of his first battle with the French. 



CHAPTEE XYIII. 
1755.— Continued. 

BATTLE OF FORT DUQUESNE— BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT AND DEATH. 

Fort Necessity. — After this battle, the command of 
the Yirginia forces, by the sudden death of Colonel Fry, 
devolved upon AVashington. He was reinforced at a place 
called the "Meadows" by two companies, one from JS'ew 

13* 



150 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

York and one from South Carolina. At the Meadows he 
erected a small fort which he called Fort Necessity, and 
when this was done, at the head of nearly four hundred 
men he turned towards Fort Duquesne. He had gone thir- 
teen miles in this direction when he was met by some 
friendly Indians, who told him that the troops in Fort 
Duquesne were as numerous as the pigeons in the woods. 
A council of war was held, and it was reluctantly deter- 
mined to return to Fort Necessity; here Washington 
strained every nerve to complete the fort, as he had no 
doubt that the French, trusting to their superiority of 
numbers, would make a descent upon him. 

Washington's Defence. — The result showed the fore- 
sight of the young officer, for before his preparations ^vere 
complete, fifteen hundred French and Indians came bear- 
ing down upon Fort Necessitj^, commanded by Monsieur 
de Yilliers, who, confident in his superior numbers, ex- 
pected to secure an easy prey. Surrounding the small 
fort, they commenced a furious fire from all points at 
once ; but now the wisdom of Washington in the choice 
of its position w^as shown. It "was erected in the middle 
of level ground, with nothing to obstruct the eye for a long 
distance on any side. The French shots were thrown 
aw^ay on account of the distance, and as they ventured 
nearer they were picked out and shot down by the keen 
American marksmen. All day long the fight continued, 
Washington animating his troops by exhortations and 
personal example. He had early taken a position on 
the outside of the fort, where the men fought from 
morning until evening in the ditch up to their knees in 
mud and water. De Yilliers was astonished ; he was not 
prepared for so earnest a resistance from these untutored 
Americans. After hours of contest he had made no im- 
pression on the fort, and had lost two hundred of his 
men killed and disabled. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 151 

The Capitulation. — Knowing that it was impossible 
for the little garrison to escape, and that it could be re- 
duced by famine, he sent a message to Washington pro- 
posing terms of capitulation ; but the conditions laid down 
were too humiliating to be thought of for an instant, and 
the young officer returned for answer that he and his com- 
panions would sacrifice their lives one by one in the ditch 
where they had fought rather than submit to dishonor. 
The haughty Frenchman began to understand what sort 
of a man he had to deal with, and during the night sent 
another message, proposing that the Americans should be 
permitted to retire from the fort with their arms and bag- 
gage, and to march without molestation into the inhabited 
parts of Virginia, and that the French should retire to 
Fort Duquesne. These terms were accepted; but Wash- 
ington had scarcely commenced his march before he dis- 
covered that the terms he had accepted were not honor- 
ably observed, for the Indians in the employ of the 
French hovered about his little army continually, com- 
mitting the most wanton outrages and barbarous cruel, 
ties ; his men dared not close their eyes for fear of the 
terrible war-whoop and the scalping-knife. At lengthy 
with diminished numbers, spent with fatigue and hunger, 
the little army arrived at Winchester. 

The House of Burgesses returned a vote of thanks 
to the officers and men engaged in this expedition, and gave 
about nine hundred dollars to be divided between them. 

Governor Dinwiddle immediately formed a plan for 
another campaign, and sent orders to Washington to re- 
trace his steps across the Alleghanies, to defeat the 
French and Indians, and to capture Fort Duquesne. 
Nothing could exceed Washington's astonishment at these 
orders. He knew that it was madness, with his exhausted 
army, to attempt to march through the wilderness in the 
midst of winter without supplies, to accomplish the defeat 



152 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

of a daring foe who had double his number intrenched in 
fortifications. In this dilemni'a the Virginia Assembly 
came to his relief, and refused to vote the money required 
to carry out Governor Dinwiddle's plan of campaign. 

During the next "winter the English government sent 
Governor Dinwiddle ten thousand pounds for carrying on 
the war, but it was accompanied b}^ orders which threw 
everything into confusion. The whole army in Yirginia 
was to be divided into companies, and no officer was to 
have a higher grade than that of captain ; so that Wash- 
ington, who had fairly won his position as colonel of a 
Virginia regiment, was degraded to the rank of captain, 
with English officers, who had seen no service, ranking 
him. His high spirit refused to brook such injustice ; he 
resigned his position in the army and retired to private life. 

Washington's next Service. — He was not permitted 
long to remain in retirement. Early in the spring of this 
year Major-General Braddock arrived with a sufficient 
body of troops to carry on the war with vigor ; and hear- 
ing of the merits of the young Virginia officer, and knowing 
how important would be his knowledge of the country in the 
approaching campaign, he sent for him and entreated him to 
accept the position of aide upon his staff, with the rank of 
colonel. Washington was only too glad to accept this offer, 
as it had been a severe trial to him to lay down his arms 
which had been raised in defence of his country. 

General Braddock, a brave and . experienced officer, 
had won many laurels upon the battle-fields of Europe, 
but he knew nothing of fighting in America. He ex- 
pected to march his men through the thick forests in 
heavy columns as he had done over the plains of Europe, 
to cut down trees, level obstructions, and bridge every 
brook. You may imagine that the progress of his troops 
was very slow ; they were nearly one month going eighty 
miles from Cumberland towards Fort Duquesne. Unfor- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 153 

Innately, Washington was taken sick and obliged to stay 
behind, so that General Braddock lost the benefit of his 
advice ; but it is doubtful whether he would have availed 
himself of it had Washington been with him, for he is 
described as being a haughty, imperious man, unwilling to 
accept counsel from an inferior officer. 

At length they arrived at the Monongahela, and 
here Colonel Washington, weak from illness, joined them ; 
but the ardor of his spirit and the urgency of the situ- 
ation forced him to enter upon the duties of his position 
without delay. On, the morning of the 9th of July, Gen- 
eral Braddock made preparations for crossing the Monon- 
gahela. Washington in later days often spoke of the 
beauty of the scene. The British troops, perfectly dis- 
ciplined and in full uniform, marched through the forest 
with the regular step of the parade-ground. Braddock 
had retained but three Yirginia companies, and those 
probably out of comj^liment to Washington; the others 
were left in the rear. 

The Ambush. — They were now within seven miles of 
Fort Duquesne, and Washington saw, with the deepest 
anxiety, the incautious rapidity with which General Brad- 
dock advanced. In vain he warned him of the dangers 
of ambush, and entreated that he might lead the way 
with the Yirginia Eangers and search the country well 
before the advance oT the whole army. Eejecting his 
advice, the haughty commander gave him to understand 
that he was presuming upon his position. He retired 
with flushed cheeks, and as his eye glanced over the 
splendid army, a sad feeling struck to his heart. How 
many of the brave fellows before him, so confident of 
victory, would that day bite the dust! The result was 
worse even than his anticipations. Just above the cross- 
ing of the river, as they were ascending the slope from 
its banks, a heavy fire w^as opened upon the front and 



154 



HISTORF OF VIRGINIA. 



left from an unseen foe. The van of the army, startled 
by this fire, fell back. A panic commenced ; and now 
the fire opened upon them from every side, though not 
a man was to be seen. 




BRADDOCK S DEFEAT. 



The Defeat. — General Braddock was a brave man. and 
did his utmost to rally his troops ; but again his ignorance 
of American warfare misled him. Instead of ordering his 
men to charge into the trees and brushwood, and thus to 
dislodge the hidden enemy, he formed them in solid columns. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 155 

as he had been accustomed to do upon open battle-fields. 
This was playing into the enemy's hands, as the French 
and Indian sharp-shooters poured in continuous volleys 
upon these masses, and no exhortations, no examples, 
could stay the panic that ensued. Crowded together 
like sheep in a slaughter-pen, as if the fire of the enemy 
was not destructive enough, they added to the bloodshed 
of their own men by their random firing. Their unfor- 
tunate general did all that man could do to restore order ; 
he was always to be seen in the front, riding from place 
to place, trying to rally his men; but it w-s in vain. 
Five horses were killed under him, and two cf his aides 
were shot down by his side. Nearly half of his army 
was either killed or wounded, and the ground was literally 
strewn with the dead. The Indians picked out the officers 
by their brilliant uniforms. 

The Virginia troops, in this terrible havoc, behaved 
with the greatest bravery. Unlike the British, they made 
no attempt to keep in close order, but scattering them- 
selves in the woods, fought from behind the trees. To 
speak in the language of the time, they fought like men 
and died like soldiers ; but their bravery did not save them 
from destruction. When the battle* ended, but thirty re- 
mained alive of the three hundred that had gone into it ; 
out of one company of twenty-nine, twenty-five were 
killed ; of another, only one private survived. 

Colonel Washington also distinguished himself by his 
coolness and resolution. After the death of the general's 
aides, the whole duty of carrying his orders to diff'erent 
parts of the field devolved upon him; this duty he per- 
formed in the midst of an incessant fire. 

A Charmed Life.— It is said that an Indian chief 
marked him, as he rode to and fro through the field, and, 
taking deliberate aim, fired ; but the intended victim rode 
on unharmed. The fire was repeated with a like result, 



156 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

and then, calling his men around him, the warrior pointed 
out the young brave whose life he sought, bidding them 
direct their rifles upon him ; but still the 3'oung hero 
passed on unharmed, until the superstitious Indians de- 
sisted, believing that he bore a charmed life. He had 
two horses shot under him, four bullets passed through 
his clothes, but not a hair of his head was hurt ; and, by 
his coolness and activity, he saved the remains of the 
army. The unhappy general was not thus protected. He 
received a ball through his lungs, and was borne from the 
field by Washington and another of his officers. After 
this the rout became general. Everything was deserted ; 
the artillery, baggage, and colors were all abandoned, and 
this probably saved the remnant of the arni}^, for the 
Indians stopped the pursuit to revel in the plunder. 

Braddock's Grave. — Fortunately, a portion of Brad- 
dock's army had been left some distance in the rear, under 
Colonel Dunbar. To join these the fragment of the de- 
feated forces bent their way, bearing their dying general. 
He died on the way within sound of the savage war- 
whoop of the pursuers. They buried him in the road, 
and drove their wagons back and forth over the spot to 
obliterate the mark^. The spot remained unidentified 
until a few years ago, when a skeleton was found and 
identified as that of General Braddock by the English 
military buttons found with it. It was removed to a 
field near by, and buried beneath an oak-tree, upon which 
was recorded the fact ; except this rude record, the grave 
has remained unmarked to the present time. Perhaps in 
the future England may honor the grave of her brave 
soldier with a fitting monument. It is said that in his 
dying moments he confessed frankly to Washington that 
he had erred in not taking his advice upon that fatal 
morning. 

After his death the entire army retreated to Win. 



MISTOKV OF VIRGINIA. I57 

Chester ; nor did Dunbar, who succeeded to the command, 
consider himself safe even there, for he announced his in- 
tention of taking up winter-quarters in Philadelphia in 
the middle of summer. Washington sent a message to 
Governor Dinwiddle, to inform him of the defeat and 
death of General Braddock and of Dunbar's departure 
to Philadelphia. The whole frontier was open to the 
enemy. "Nothing could exceed the dismaj^ of the people 
of Virginia at the reception of this news. A meeting of 
the Burgesses was immediately called ; a sum of money 
was voted to Washington and his surviving officers, as a 
token of approval of the part they had borne in the un- 
fortunate campaign, and their confidence in Washington 
was shown by bestowing upon him the command of a 
regiment which was to proceed at once to the protection 
of the border. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. In wha. year did these events occur? 

2. What promotion was conferred upon Washington after the battle? 

3. What fort did he erect? 

i. What prevented his marching against Fort Duquesne ? 

5. What was Washington's next step ? 

6. Tell of the attack on Fort Necessity. 

7. Of the close of the affair. 

8. Of Washington's retreat to Winchester. 

9. How did the House of Burgesses acknowledge his services? 

10. What plan of campaign did the governor form? 

11. What prevented its execution? 

12. What did the English government do next? 

13. What course did Washington take? 

14. What induced him again to take up arms ? 

16. What of General Braddock, and his idea of fighting in America "• 

lo. Tell of his march. 

L7. Where was Washington? 

18. What happened on the 9th of July? 

19. Relate th3 order of the advance. 

20. What remonstrance did Washington make, and with what effect? 

21. Helate the story of the fight. 

u 



158 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 

22. Tell of the panic. 

23. What course did the Indians take? 

24. What of the behavior and loss among the Virginia troops , 

25. How was Washington wonderfully protected? 

26. Tell of Braddock's death. 

27. What became of the rest of the army? 

28. What remarkable course did Dunbar take ? 

29. What did the House of Burgesses do? 



CHAPTER XIX. 
1756-1763. 

INDIAN ATROCITIES— FALL OF FORT DUQUESNE— WASHINGTON RE- 
TIRES TO MOUNT VERNON. 

After the Defeat. — The prompt measures thus taken 
were not premature, for, before Washington could return 
to Winchester, news was received that the Indiana, en- 
couraged by the defeat at Fort Duquesne, had gathered 
in great numbers, and were already spreading devastation 
throughout the whole country. Had the government fur- 
nished him with men and means sufficient to take Fort 
Duquesne at once, the heart-rending details of savage 
butcheries upon the frontier might never have been told 
The whole country was terror-stricken at the fate of Brad- 
dock's army, and no representations of Washington could 
induce the authorities to order another advance. Thus 
the French were enabled to concentrate their forces at this 
most important place; and it is no doubt true that this 
civilized nation used every means in its power to send the 
murderous savage with his tomahawk and scalping-knife 
upon the defenceless inhabitants of the frontier of Virginia. 

Washington builds Forts. — Washington did all he 
could in its defence, but this was little; for how could six- 
teen hundred men guard a frontier of three hundred and 



HISTORT OF VIRGINIA. 159 

dixty miles? He built a large fort at Winchester, which 
he named in honor of Lord Loudoun, who was now in 
command of the British forces in America ; and besides, 
twenty-three smaller forts were erected along the moun- 
tain ranges. Among these he divided his forces, and to 
these places of refuge would men, women, and children 
fly for safety when the war-whoop of the savage awakened 
the echoes of the forests. 

Indian Outrages.— The history of the following three 
years is written in blood, and the heart of the brave com- 
mander of the Virginia forces sickened at the sights w^hich 
daily met his eye, and which he was powerless to avert. 
Steadily he pursued his course, going fiom fort to fort. 
At one place he found a man lying in the furrow beside 
his plough, with his story written in his forehead by the 
terrible tomahawk; and at a short distance stood the 
ruins of his cottage, with the bones of his wife and chil- 
dren bleaching in the ashes. But why should we dwell on 
such horrors ? How can the writer of history paint the 
American Indian as brave and generous with such facts 
before him ? — his distinguishing characteristic being to 
fight under cover, and not only to murder, but to torture 
defenceless women and children. 

Fort Duquesne taken.— During all this time Washing- 
ton continued to advocate the attack upon Fort Duquesne, 
but in vain, until Dinwiddle was removed from the gov- 
ernment of Virginia and Lord Fauquier appointed in his 
place. He at once saw the wisdom of this movement, and 
an army was raised, which after many dangers and delays 
reached Fort Duquesne to find it deserted, so that this im- 
portant position fell into the hands of the Virginians with- 
out a blow. It was now their duty to bury the remains of 
those who were slain in Braddock's defeat, and which now 
lay bleaching upon the battle-field. Disfigured, mutilated 
by wounds, torn by birds and beasts of prey, they pre- 



160 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

eented a spectacle horrible to the sight, and many a brave 
soldier dropped a tear as he walked silently and solemnly 
through this army of the dead. 

Distressing Scenes. — It is related that one Major 
Halket had lost a father and a brbther in this battle ; 
an Indian guide told him of an old officer whom he had 
seen fall, and of a young man who in stooping to help 
him fell across the body, and he pointed out the two skele- 
tons as they lay. Quivering with emotion, the strong man 
stood by the side of the bones; stopping an instant to 
think, he recalled some peculiarities connected with his 
father, and as he raised the skeleton and perceived the 
mark for which he sought, he exclaimed " It is my 
father!" and fell back in the arms of his companion. 
This is but one touching instance among many. There 
were some there who had escaped the slaughter of that 
terrible day, and told of its horrors with all the eloquence 
of eye-witnesses. At length, with pious care they gath- 
ered together the sacred dust and buried it in one grave. 
Having performed this duty, they made a treaty with the 
Indians, and having taken proper steps for the protection 
of the frontier. General Forbes returned with his army to 
Philadelphia. 

The fall of Fort Duquesne put an end to the war 
between the French and English upon the frontiers oi 
Virginia, and Washington, after five years of active ser- 
vice, was not sorry to lay down his sword and return to 
Mount Vernon. 

It is a remarkable fact that in Washington's career, 
though often unsuccessful, he never lost the confidence 
of his countrymen. No one blamed him for Braddock's 
defeat ; on the contrary, his reputation rose upon that 
battle-field; ministers iu the pulpit thanked God for 
preserving the life of the young hero, and the Burgesses 
presented him with a token of their confidence in him. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 161 

For some years after this Virginia grew in strength 
and prosperity. The northern colonies were involved in 
war with the French, but everywhere the English were 
victorious, France was humbled, and the civilized world 
once more desired peace. 

The population of Virginia increased rapidly, and she 
was unconsciously preparing for the great struggle in which 
she was to take the lead. She had now passed her infancy, 
her childhood, and even her youth, and she was slowly 
learning the high duties to which she was to be called, and 
in whose faithful performance she won for herself a name 
of which her sons to the latest generation will be proud. 

Taxation without Representation. — England, in the 
mean time, had been involved in so many wars that she was 
deeply in debt, and began to think seriously of forcing her 
prosperous colonies in America to assist her in paying these 
dues. This she had no right to do, and I will tell you why 
in a fQ\Y words. You remember, some chapters back, 1 tried 
to explain to you about the government of England. Her 
House of Commons, like our Congress and Legislatures, is 
made up of men elected by the people to represent their 
interests, and the people are then taxed to pay the expenses 
of the government and to lay up a fund by which their ovvu 
wants will be supplied. • Now you can see by a little thought 
how well this would conduce to the benefit of all parties 
concerned. This great body of men, selected from the most 
intelligent in the country, meet together and consult about 
the good of the whole ; and after the wants and wishes of 
all are made known, they then decide how the sum of 
money they have in hand, and to which all have contributed, 
can be best used to meet these necessities. Having fixed 
this in your minds, 3'ou will be able to understand what in- 
justice it would be if one particular part of the country 
should have been prevented from sending her men to Par- 
liament to represent her wishes, and had still been forced 
I 14* 



lf)2 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

to pay her share of the money in the treasury. Now this 
was exactly the state of the case with America. She was 
not allowed to send any men to the Parliament of England 
to represent her interests, and therefore she very properly 
thought that England had no right to tax her. particularly 
as each colony had her own government to support. If you 
will try and comprehend these few simple facts perfectly, 
you will have no difficulty in understanding the causes 
which led to the Eevolutionary War. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION". 

1. What years are included in this chapter? 

2. What happened beft»re Washington returned to Winchester? 

3. What was the cause of these misfortunes, and how might they have 

been averted ? 

4. What steps did Washington take? 
6. What of the following three years? 

6. What course did Washington advocate, and with what success? 

7. Give an account of the return to the scene of Braddock's defeat, and 

the burial of the dead. 

8. What put an end to the war between the French and English ? 

9. What is a noticeable fict in Washington's career? 

10. What progress did Virginia make after these events? 

11. What was the condition of the British government, and how did she 

propose to relieve herself of her difficulties ? 

12. Explain why England had no right to tax America. 



CHAPTER XX. 
1765-1770. 

PATRICK HENRY— RICHARD HENRY LEE— RICHARD BLAND AND ED- 
MUND PENDLETON— THE STAMP ACT RESISTED— THOMAS JEF- 
FERSON. 

Loyalty of Virginia. — An important and interesting 
duty of the Virginia historian is to make the reader ac- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 163 

quainted with her i^reat men ; those who by heroism, by 
eloquence, by statesmanship, by the power of the pen, 
and by patriotism have made their names immortal. You 
have already had a portrait of tbe great hero George Wash- 
ington, who stands as the Father of liis country. The 
circumstances of America at this time called for other 
weapons than the sword. Virginia was in sore difficul- 
ties ; more than the other colonies was she devoted to the 
mother-country. She had been the last to desert King 
Charles I., and the first to welcome King Charles II. to the 
throne. But there was something that Virginia loved more, 
even, than she did her king, and this was justice and free- 
dom, and these she found endangered by the proposition to 
tax her in order to enable England to pay her heavy debt. 
The Navigation Laws. — I have told you about the 
navigation laws which forbade America to trade with any 
country but England. When the colonies were too feeble 
to think of resistance, they had been forced to pay a tax 
upon all articles which were brought from England to 
America. These things, though wrongs, Virginia had 
become accustomed to; but when her submission in this 
matter encouraged her English rulers to put still greater 
burdens upon her, she became alarmed, and looked around 
anxiously to see which of her sons would give voice to her 
indignation ; nor did she look in vain. 

Patrick Henry.— A young lawyer from the county of 
Hanover, with neither birth, wealth, nor connections to 
recommend him, came forward. This was Patrick Henry, 
whose name, as an orator, will go down side by side with 
that of Demosthenes; and there is no j^erson in history 
the study of whose character should give more encour- 
agement to the young. He had not even enjoyed the ad- 
vantage of a first-rate education; he was awkward and 
ungainly in appearance, and had a natural indolence to 
contend against which made success doubly difficult; 



164 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

but with all this, he had a thirst for knowledge which 
was unconquerable. History was his favorite study, par- 
ticularly- that of Virginia. With this he made himself 
perfectly familiar, from the time that James I. gave the 
charter to the London Company down to the present-, 
and thus fortified by a knowledge of her past, when Vir- 
ginia wanted help he was ready to give it. 

The Stamp Act. — The question of the right of Eng- 
land to tax her colonies was being discussed in the Assem- 
bly of Virginia. There were many eloquent men in this 
body, but still there was somethhig wanting. It was a 
serious matter to ojDpose England. It was not only the 
love of a child for a mother which made Virginia pause 
to think, but the knowledge that the opposition to her 
would produce a struggle from which the boldest shrank, 
and which many thought had better be avoided, even by 
allowing the right of England to tax the colony. Fortu- 
nately, this was not the opinion of all. The colonies now 
resembled a smouldering fire which only required a strong 
breath to kindle into a flame. This breath was supplied 
by the news which reached Virginia that the Parliament 
of England had passed a law known as the " Stamp Act." 

A Modern Parallel. — In these days it is not difficult 
to understand what this was. You all know that not many 
years ago almost every article which was purchased from 
a store in this country had a stamp upon it; that many 
business papers and instruments of writing were not worth 
anything unless they had a stamp upon them ; but you do 
not know probably that these stamps were a tax which the 
government levied upon the articles. The United States 
issued these stamps, and sold them to the people ; the 
money thus obtained was put into the Treasury, and 
provided a fund for the payment of the debt of the 
country. 1 have nothing to say against this plan : it 
was perhaps the best that could be devised ; every American 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



165 



was interested in having the debts of the country paid, and 
no one felt sensibly the few cents which these stamps cost. 
But when England made it a law that America should 
buy her stamps and use them they determined to resist. * 

Indignation in the Colonies. — The Virginians were a 
proud race, and very jealous of any attack upon their liber- 
ties. It was not the money that they cared for, but it was 
the principle involved in the matter. They would willingly 
have voted a large sum to assist England in paying her 
debts, but they knew that this small tax was but the first 
link in the chain which was to bind them as slaves to the 
mother-country. Admit her right to levy tliis upon them, 
and it would be followed by a larger and a larger tax until 
the burden would become 
intolerable. Nor was Vir- 
ginia alone in this opin- 
ion ; the v.oice of in<lig- 
nation rose from all the 
colonies. When the 
Stamp Act was issued 
in Boston, it was seized, 
torn in pieces, and tram- 
pled underfoot. The Vir- 
ginia law3^ers declared 
that they would rather 
give up their profession 
than use the stamps ; and 
when the English agent 
arrived to distribute 
them, he was so rudely 
treated that he was 
obliged to seek safety in flight, 
stances which prepared the way 
Patrick Henry. 

The Virginia Assembly.— As I have said, the Virginia 




PATRICK HENRY. 

These are the circum- 
for the great orator, 



166 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



Assembly met to discuss this act. I will tell you something 
about a few of the great men of the Assembly, Avhose names 
should live in the history of Virginia. There was Eicliard 
Henry Lee, who was called the Cicero of Virginia, from 
his great reputation as an orator, and from his appearance, 
which was formed in the Roman mould. He had lost one 

of his hands by an ac- 
cident, and he always 
w^ore a silken bandage 
over it, w^hich is said 
to have added to, 
rather than taken 
from, the effect of his 
manner. He was so 
graceful that many 
thought he must prac- 
tise speaking before a 
mirror. 

Other Members. 
— Next came Peyton 
Randolph, the attor- 
ney-general, who was 
no orator, yet a man 
of much leaining and influence. Then there was Richard 
Bland, who was a wise statesman, but a better writer than 
speaker. Still another was Edmund Pendleton, who had 
been left an orphan, poor and uneducated, and who, after 
ploughing all day, pursued his studies at night, working 
hard, and spending all that he could spare from his earn- 
ings in books. He had no skill as a writer, but spoke with 
great power. George Mason, who wrote the Bill of Rights 
for Virginia, was a modest country gentleman who lived 
Dot very far from Mount Vernon, at Gunston. Mr. Madi- 
son said of him that he was the ablest man in debate he 
ever saw. He was fifty years old when he wrote the Bill 




RICHARD HENRY LEE. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 167 

of Eights, and also the Constitution for the government 
of the State, which papers will always secure to him a 
foremost place among the distinguished men of Virginia. 
These were the sons whom Virginia called around her in 
her time of trouble. 

A Great American Patriot.— In front of and greater 
than them all stood Patrick Henry. He was twenty-eight 
years old when he became a member of the House of Bur- 
gesses, to which he had not been elected, but in which he 
obtained a seat through one of the members resigning his 
place to him, in order that he might speak upon this great 
subject. 

He found the House divided into two parties ; one advo- 
cating submission in the matter of the Stamp Act, and the 
other opposed to it. Finding that the party for submis- 
sion was about to pass the Stamp Act, he took out his 
pencil and wrote upon a leaf of an old book some reso- 
lutions which he presented to the House. They set forth 
the facts that Virginians had a right to all the privileges of 
English subjects ; that having no representatives in Parlia- 
ment, they should not be taxed by ParUament ; that the 
right of these colonies to tax themselves had always been 
recognized by the kings and Parliaments of England ; and 
lastly, that no one had a right to tax Virginians but the 
General Assembly of Virginia, and were such a thing 
allow^ed it would destroy American freedom. 

Patrick Henry's Great Oration.— These were the 
boldest words which had ever been uttered in that place, 
and the bravest hearts shrunk from the results which 
might follow them. A stormy discussion took place, in 
the midst of which Patrick Henry rose. The party op- 
posing him laughed almost without reserve at his appear- 
ance. He was plainly, even coarsely, dressed, awkward in 
his figure and manner, and formed a striking contrast to 
the fashionable gallants, with their powdered hair and 



168 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



ruffled shirt-fronts, who filled the House. Their amuse- 
ment did not last long, for soon a great change came over 
the speaker ; his eye kindled as he warmed with his sub- 
ject, his form became erect, and even graceful, and his 
voice thrilled like music as he spoke, as no Virginian had 
ever dared do before, of the wrongs of the colony and the 
dangers which lay before her. Not a sound broke the 
fltillness; every eye was turned upon him as he painted 




PATRICK HENRY BKFORE THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES. 

Virginia in chains to the power of England. The blood 
ran cold in their veins as they listened. It seems a pity 
that this wonderful speech was not preserved ; no one 
thought of writing it out as he uttered it, and only a por- 
tion of it has come down to us. " Caesar," he cried, " had 

his Brutus, Charles I. his Cromwell, and George III. " 

Here he was interrupted by loud cries of " Treason ! trea- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 169 

son!" He knew that he stood upon the brink of a preci- 
pice ; Virginia was not yet able to bear the daring words 
he would have uttered. He did not lose his self-command, 
but straightening himself up, he continued, "and George 
III. may profit by their example. If this be treason, make 
the most of it." 

The effect of this speech is best known by its result 
— the resolutions passed by a majority of one. At the door 
of the House, listening with delight to this speech, stood a 
student of William and Mary College. It was Thomas 
Jeiferson, who afterwards wrote the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. The news of the adoption of these resolu- 
tions spread like wildfire, and caused intense excitement 
throughout the whole country-. The other colonies adopted 
similar resolutions, and determined that nothing bearing the 
stamp of England should come into the country. Clubs 
were formed named " The Sons of Liberty," and the mem- 
bers bound themselves by an oath to resist oppression. 
Massachusetts proposed that all the colonies should send 
delegates to New York in October to consult about the 
best means to be adopted in this crisis. This was the first 
American Congress. The colonies heretofore had had sep- 
arate governments, and this was the first time they united 
for a common defence. 

On the ist of November, the day fixed upon for the 
Stamp Act to take etfect, signs of indignation and mur- 
muring were visible everywhere. In Boston a funeral, 
which they called the Funeral of Liberty, took place ; muf- 
fled drums beat dead marches, the bells were tolled, and 
long processions of black-robed mourners passed through 
the streets following a coffin, which was solemnly interred. 

When the news of this opposition reached England, 
it created a great excitement in Parliament. Many mem- 
bers thought America was perfectly right in her course, 
and one of them, William Pitt, rose from a sick-bed to 
H 15 



170 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

make a speech in behalf of the Americans. "We arc 
told," said he, " that America is obstinate, America is in 
open rebellion. I rejoice that America has resisted oppres- 
sion ; three millions of people so dead to all feelings of lib- 
erty as voluntarily to submit to be slaves would have been 
fit instruments to make slaves of all the rest." The result 
of American firmness was, that England repealed the act, 
— that is, did away with it; and the Americans, strength- 
ened by this triumph, determined that they never again 
would submit to a wrong from England. 

Later Events. — For some time after this, affairs went 
on quietly in Virginia. Governor Fauquier died, and was 
succeeded by Norborne Berkeley, Baron of Botetourt, who 
was chosen as Governor of Virginia because it was sup- 
posed that he would check rebellion and see the king's 
commands enforced. He was a good and a great man, 
loved his new people, and was continually perplexed by 
the desire to obey his king and yet do justice to those 
over whom he ruled. 

Governor Botetourt. — Notwithstanding all the trouble 
about the Stamp Act, England still debated how she could 
make the colonies help to pay her debts. Virginia liad also 
another complaint to make. There had for many years ex- 
isted a law that when a person was accused of crime in Vir- 
ginia, he should be sent all the way over to England to be 
tried. The year after Lord Botetourt was appointed Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, the General Assembl}^ passed two reso- 
lutions: first, that Virginia would no longer submit to be 
taxed by England, nor would she send criminals to Eng- 
land to be tried. 

The Assembly dissolved. — Now, although the gov- 
ernor knew perfectly well that the Assembly was rii;ht in 
this, yet he thought that liis duty to the king compelled 
him to take notice of what seemed rebellion against iiis 
authority. He told the Assembly that he had heard of 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 171 

their resolutions, but that his duty was not to counte- 
nance rebeUion, therefore he dissolved the Assembly. It 
had always been the custom, when the Assembly was 
dissolved, for the members to return quietly to their 
homes; but the spirit of freedom and independence was 
now aroused, and instead of dispersing, they met at a 
private house in Williamsburg, and resolved that they 
would not bring into the country anything from England 
upon which a tax was laid. Copies of this resolution 
were sent all through the country, and the other colonies 
joined Virginia in making the same resolution. 

The Boston Tea Party. — It is one thing to resolve and 
another thing to perform. Americans did both. Glass, lead, 
paper, and tea had been taxed, and not one of these articles 
was permitted to be brought to America. So determined 
were the colonists, that when some time afterwards a vessel 
loaded with tea entered Boston harbor, a number of citizens, 
who feared the people might be tempted by a sight of the 
commodit}', disguised themselves as Indians, went on board 
the ship in the night, and threw overboard three hundred 
and forty-two chests of tea, and then returned to their 
homes. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What is a very important duty of the writer of the history of Virginia ? 

2. Who was the great military hero of Virginia ? 

3. What condition of affairs in her colony called for other weapons than 

the sword? 

4. What effect had the submission of Virginia to the navigation laws pro- 

duced ? 

5. What did she do in her dilemma? 

6. Who was Patrick Henry ? 

7. Why should his life be an encouragement to the young? 

8. What circumstances fitted him to become the defender of Virginia? 

9. What considerations had prevented the men of Virginia from resisting 

the oppressions of England? 
10. Explain what the Stamp Act was. 



172 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

11. Why did Virginia determine to resist the execution of the Stamp Act? 

12. How was it received in the other colonies? 

13. What of Richard Henry Lee? 

14. What of Peyton Randolph and Richard Bland? 

15. What of Edmund Pendleton? 

16. What of George Mason? 

17. How did Patrick Henry get a seat in the House of Burgesses? 

18. What division of opinion did he find in the House? 

19. What resolutions did he present to the House? 
20 How were they received ? 

21. Describe the orator's appearance. 

22. What change came over him when he began to speak? 

23. Repeat a portion of his speech. 

24. What effect did it have? 

25. Who was the student listening at the door? 

26. What effect did the news of these events have through the country? 

27. Tell of the first American Congress. 

28. What was done in Boston ? 

29. What effect did these events have upon England? 

30. Who succeeded Lord Fauquier ? 

31. Of what other grievance did Virginia complain? 

32. What steps did she take in the matter? 

33. What did the governor do ? 

34. Did the Assembly disperse? 

35. Did America act as well as resolve? 

36. What decisive step was taken at Boston? 



CHAPTER XXI. 
1774, 

DEATH OF LORD BOTETOURT— LORD DUNMORE SUCCEEDS HIM AS 
GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA -HIS DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AS- 
SEMBLY—INDIAN TROUBLES — BATTLE OF POINT PLEASANT- 
LOGAN-MEETING OF THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION IN ST, JOHN'S 
CHURCH, RICHMOND. 

Governor Dunmore. — This year died Lord Botetourt, 
beloved and respected by all who knew him. His death 
was doubtless hastened by the troubles and perplexities of 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 173 

his position. The people of Virginia showed their appre- 
ciation of his worth by erecting a monument to him at 
Williamsburg, and naming after him one of tlie most 
beautiful counties in the State. He was succeeded by 
Lord Dunmore, who stands lowest of all the Governors 
of Virginia. He was not only harsh and rude in his 
manners, but perfectly unprincipled in his morals, and 
haughty and tyrannical in the extreme. He came to 
Virginia accompanied by a favorite, Captain Foy, and 
with the determination to draw from the people, by every 
means in his power, both fair and unfair, money to enrich 
Himself and his friend. 

But the Virginians were not so easy to deal with as 
he had expected. The Assembly investigated closely, and 
refused to sanction his attempts to cheat the people out 
of their property. His next project was to bring on a 
war between Virginia and Pennsylvania about their boun- 
daries, thinking that if he could inflame the colonies against 
each other, they would not be able to join together to op- 
pose England, and besides, would be so much interested in 
this quarrel that he would be at liberty to carry out his 
own private plans without molestation. 

Again he was mistaken. The colonies were more 
closely drawn together than ever before by a common 
interest, and this was the resistance of oppression. The 
difference between Virginia and Pennsylvania was peace- 
fully settled; and hearing that, as a punishment to the 
Boston people for throwing the tea overboard, her port 
was closed, and no vessel permitted either to come in or 
go out (thus cutting off her trade), the Virginians, at the 
next meeting of the Assembly, offered resolutions express- 
ing sympathy for their oppressed brethren. Lord Dun- 
more, in a great rage, immediately dissolved the As- 
sembly; but, instead of dispersing as he had intended, 
they adjourned to the "Raleigh Tavern, and there, in in- 

a6* 



174 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

dignant terms, denounced tea as the source of all their 
troubles, and declared tbeir purpose not to send one pound 
of tobacco to England until the port of Boston was opened. 

Logan's Revenge. — In the mean time. Governor Dun- 
more's schemes to produce a diversion from himself and 
his affairs had revived a fearful evil, which perhaps even 
he did not intend. The Indian war-whoop was again 
heard upon the frontiers, and again were defenceless 
men, women, and children flying from their savage foe. 
Eeports of these horrors thrilled all hearts at Williams- 
burg. The white men seem to have commenced these 
outrages; one Colonel Cresap had headed a fearful mas- 
sacre of the Indians, in which the entire family of a great 
chief named Logan had been killed. Logan had been a 
warm friend to the white man, and had done all in his 
power to keep the peace between the Americans and his 
own race ; but this outrage aroused his savage nature, 
and he himself led his tribes to the war and wreaked 
his vengeance upon the frontier settlements. 

A Fierce Battle. — An army was raised and placed 
under the command of General Lewis, who marched to 
Point Pleasant, where the Kanawha Eiver empties into 
the Ohio. Here he remained some time without seeing 
the Indians ; but one day two young men, venturing out 
for the purpose of hunting, were suddenly attacked by a 
large body of Indians ; one was killed, and the other fled 
wounded to the camp to rouse his comrades. In a few 
moments the whole force was under arms. The Indian 
war-whoop was heard, and fifteen hundred savages came 
yelling like an army of demons. They were led on b}^ 
a gigantic warrior named Cornstalk, whose great skill 
and cruelty were well known. The Indians now under- 
stood the use of fire-arms almost as well as the Americans, 
and a terrible fire poured from their ranks, which killed and 
wounded many of the whites. Colonel Charles Lewis, a 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 175 

brother of the general, was mortally wounded, and only 
contrived to drag himself within the camp before he ex- 
pired. When all seemed lost, a reinforcement arrived 
under Colonel Flemming. who ordered the army to adopt 
the Indian method of shooting from behind trees. In- 
stantly, as if by magic, both armies disappeared, and 
little was seen of the fight except the flash of fire-arms. 
The huge figure of Cornstalk glided from tree to tree, 
encouraging his men ; and his loud voice was heard above 
the din of battle, calling out "Be strong! be strong!" 

The Indians repulsed. — Colonel Flemming received 
two balls through his wrist and one through his lungs, but 
still continued to cheer on his men. The firing kept up 
all day, and the loss of life was terrible. By the advice 
of Colonel Flemming, the Virginians adopted a very cun- 
ning stratagem. Holding up their hats from behind the 
trees, when the Indians fired they let them fall; the In- 
dians, thinking they were men, rushed forward with their 
scalping-knives, only to be shot down by the Virginians. 
At length the Indians began to give way, the Virginians 
having been reinforced by Colonel Field, who was killed 
while leading the pursuit. The Indians fought for every 
inch of ground as they retreated, and it was not until 
alter sunset that they withdrew. Cornstalk himself 
brought up the rear, and with his own hand struck 
dead one of his men who showed signs of cowardice. 
This victory, though complete, was dearly bought, the 
Virginians having. lost one hundred and forty men, among 
whom were many valuable officers. 

Lord Dunmore, who had promised to join Lewis, in- 
stead of doing so took another direction ; and immedi- 
diately after the battle an order came for Lewis to join 
him at Shawneetown, eighty miles farther on, as he had 
succeeded in securing a treaty of peace with the savages. 
General Lewis at first refused to obey, as he did not 



176 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

think the Indiaos meant peace, but at length yielded to 
Governor Diinmore, only stipulatini^ that every ])recau- 
tion should be taken to prevent treachery. The Indians 
were encamped within their fortifications, from w^hich 
only eighteen besides their chiefs were permitted to pass 
at a time; and they were forced to deposit their arms 
with the guard at the gate. The negotiation w-as opened 
by Cornstalk, who made a long speech in a loud tone 
of voice, which was heard all over the camp. He ac- 
cused the Virginians of commencing the war b}' theii 
massacres, which w^as undoubtedly true; after this the 
terms of the treaty w^ere settled, and the prisoners on 
both sides delivered up. 

Logan's Appeal.— It was observed that Logan, th6 
great Cayuga chief, was not present at this interview; but 
although he w^ould not personally have anything to do with 
those who had murdered his family, yet. on account of his 
people, he consented to the peace. While the treaty w^as 
going on a man appeared bearing in his hand a letter with 
the signature of Logan ; he found it tied to a war-club in a 
cabin at some distance from the camp. It was addressed to 
Lord Dunmore, and was afterwards published througliout 
England and America. It is considered one of the finest 
specimens of savage eloquence that was ever penned. I 
give it to you complete, because I am sure that its simple 
pathos must touch the hearts of all who read it : 

" I appeal to an}^ white man to say if ever he entered 
Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat ; if ever 
he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. During 
the course of the last long and bloody war, Logan remained 
idle in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love 
for the w^hites, that my countrymen pointed as they passed, 
and said, 'Logan is the friend of white men.' I had even 
thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of on© 
man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood and 



HISTORY OF VIRGl^'lA 177 

unprovoked, murdered all the relations of Logan, not even 
sparing my women and children. There runs not a drop of 
my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called 
on me for revenge. I have sought it ; I have killed many ; 
I have fully glutted my vengeance ; for my country I re- 
joice at the beams of peace. But do not harbor a thought 
thLt mine is the joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He 
will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to 
mourn for Logan ? — Not one." 

The Clouds of War. — But a more obstinate contest 
was in progress than with the Indians. Thick clouds 
were swiftly gathering, which were to burst in the 
Storms of war between England and America. Not- 
withstanding the remonstrances of patriots on both sides 
of the water, notwithstanding the firm determination, 
strictly adhered to by the colonists, not to send anything 
to England or to receive anything from England until 
their grievances were removed, still the evil increased 
rather than diminished. 

The Virginia Convention. — In the month of March 
of this same year the Virginia Convention met at Eich- 
mond, which was then a s'^all town of wooden houses 
built over the hills which sloped down to the river. 
Upon what is now called Church Hill there stands an 
old wooden church, with which some of you, at least, 
are familiar. It was in this very building that the Con- 
vention met to deliberate upon the course to be pursued 
in the gathering crisis. Virginia had not yet acknowl- 
edged, even to herself, that war was inevitable ; but 
when day after day ships arrived from England bringing 
armed troops, which were quartered in the town; when 
over the waters of Chesapeake Bay she saw the English 
vessels of war hovering upon her coast, she knew that 
if liberty was to be preserved, she must, without delay, 
put herself in a posture of defence; and it was for the 



178 



mSTCRV OF VIRGINIA, 




HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. I79 

purpose of consulting upon the best mode of doing this 
that the Convention had now assembled. It was com- 
posed of representatives from all the different counties 
in the colony; and it is interesting and instructive to 
read the bold instructions which the hardy patriots at 
home dared to give to these delegates. 

Instructions to Delegates. — I have now before me a 
curious relic of this time. It is a document printed on 
white satin, and contains the instructions from the free- 
holders of Augusta County to their representatives to this 
Convention. The satin is yellow with age, but the prin- 
ciples imprinted upon it should ever remain fresh in the 
breasts of freemen. It was, in effect, a declaration of their 
determination to be a free people. After expressing loyalty 
and attachment to their sovereign, the King of England, 
the men of Augusta declare that their fathers left their 
native land and came to the wilderness to enjoy liberty of 
conscience and the rights of human nature, and these 
rights they were fully determined should never be sur- 
rendered to any parliament or body of men on earth, ia 
which they were not represented. Kor did Augusta stand 
alone; other counties gave similar instructions to their 
delegates. So that the body of men who gathered in con- 
vention at Eichmond went strengthened by the knowledge, 
that whatever course might be decided upon for the de- 
fence of Virginia the people at home were ready to lay 
down tlieir purses and their lives to accomplish it. 

Patrick Henry proposed that the citizens of the dif^ 
ferent counties should be formed into military companies 
and drilled in the arts of war. This looked so much like 
threatening England, that the more timid members drew 
back in alarm. " What is the use," said they, " of taking 
a bold stand which we have no means of maintaining? 
Without soldiers, without arms, and without officers, shall we 
attempt to contend against the strongest military power Id 



180 HJSTOEF OF VIRGINIA. 

the world ?" Acknowledging their loyalty to England, they 
pictured the comforts and luxuries they might continue to 
enjoy were only peaceful means used to assert their rights. 

A Grand Oration. — Then outspoke that voice of Vir- 
ginia, Patrick Henry. Turning his piercing eyes from one 
member of the Convention to another, he thrilled every 
heart with his fiery eloquence. I wish I could give 3'ou 
his v/hole speech ; I feel sure that your hearts too would 
glow with the enthusiastn which moved him. He besought 
the members to give up at once the idea that the storm of 
war could by any means be averted ; he reminded them 
how again and again they had prostrated themselves be- 
fore the throne of England, petitioning simply for their 
rights, and had met with nothing but disregard and insult; 
if they wished to be free, they must fight, and He who had 
declared that the " race is not to the swift, nor the battle 
to the strong" would help them in their helplessness, and 
raise up friends for them in their weakness. His wonderful 
speech closed with these memorable words : " Is life so dear, 
or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains 
and slavery ? Forbid it. Almighty God ! I know not what 
course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or 
give me death !" Not a sound broke the stillness as the 
great orator took his seat. His words had reached every 
heart ; there were no timid men now in the Convention ; all 
were ready to give up their lives in the defence of liberty. 

Battle of Lexington. — Mr. Henry's proposition was 
adopted ; men from every county were enrolled in the 
army of Virginia, and trained with all diligence in military 
duties, but these preparations had scarcely begun before 
news arrived which still more fired the hearts of the Vir- 
ginians. A battle had been fought on the plains of Lex- 
ington, in Massachusetts, between the British forces and 
the Massachusetts militia, in which the first blood of the 
Eevolutionary War was shed. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 181 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What is the date of these events ? 

2. What probably caused the death of Lord Botetourt? 

3. What was the character of his successor, and how did he seek to accom- 

plish his ends ? 

4. Did he succeed in his schemes ? 

5. Why did he dissolve the Assembly, and did they disperse at his bidding? 

6. What fearful evil did Dunmore's schemes bring upon Virginia? 

7. What did Colonel Cresap do ? 

8. Who was Logan ? 

9. To what point did General Lewis conduct his men? 

10. Give an account of the battle of Point Pleasant. 

11. Which side gained the victory? 

12. Give an account of the treaty at Shawneetown. 

13. How did Logan act? 

14. Read aloud his letter to Lord Dunmore. 

15. What difficulties were gathering over America? 

16. Where did the Virginia Convention assemble? 

17. Give an account of the condition of affairs in Virginia. 

18. Who composed the Convention ? 

19. What instructions did Augusta and other counties give their repre- 

sentatives ? 

20. What was Patrick Henry's proposition, and how was it received ? 

21. What did Patrick Henry answer? 

22. Give the closing words of his speech. 

23. What was the result of his eloquence? 

24. What news from Massachusetts still more fired the hearts of the Vir- 

ginians ? 



CHAPTER XXII. 
1775. 

GOVERNOR DUNMORE'S TREACHERY— THE POWDER AT WILLIAMS- 
BURG— THE REVOLUTION BEGUN— BATTLE OF HAMPTON-AT- 
TACK ON JAMESTOWN— THE TORIES. 

Lord Dunmore's Proceedings. — When the news of 
the proceedings of the Convention, followed closely by 
that of the battle in Massachusetts, reached Lord Dun- 
more, he became alarmed, and determined, as far as he 

16 



182 HISTOBY OF VIRGINIA. 

could, to take from the Virginians the power of resist- 
ance. There was, in the city of Williamsburg, a maga- 
zine containing a quantity of powder which belonged to 
the colony. In the • dead of night a body of armed 
sailors came up to the city, and, by order of Lord Dun- 
more, removed twenty barrels of powder to their vessel, 
which lay in York Eiver. This caused the most intense 
excitement in Williamsburg. Groups of men, with gloomy 
and angry faces, gathered in knots about the sti'eets. The 
Common Council sent an address to the governor, asking 
an explanation ; they reminded him that the powder had 
been placed in the magazine for public use, and that he 
knew, moreover, that if their slaves, who had been urged 
by wicked persons to insurrection, should now rise, the 
people would be utterly defenceless. Governor Dunmore 
returned a most unsatisfactory answer, and when, a short 
time afterwards, he heard that the citizens were in arms, 
in a great passion he swore that if a hair of his head, or 
of those who had been instrumental in taking away the 
powder, was touched, he would himself arm the slaves 
and burn Williamsburg to the ground. 

Public Indignation. — Those wbo knew Lord Dunmore 
best, knew that this was no vain threat: he was wicked 
enough to commit this or any other outrage; but this 
knowledge, instead of allaying, increased the excitement, 
and as the news spread through the country it roused 
indignation everywhere. A party of citizens entered the 
magazine at night, and took from it a number of pistols, 
muskets, and other military articles. 

The *' Fowey." — There were, at this time, lying in the 
waters of Virginia a number of English war vessels. One 
of them, the " Fowey," was in York River, directly opposite 
Yorktown. As soon as the arms were removed from the 
magazine, Lord Dunmore sent a messenger to the captain 
of the " Fowey," asking him to send a body of armed men 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 183 

to protect him in his palace. This request was complied 
with, and after the departure of the troops, the captain of 
the '• Fovvey" addressed a letter to Thomas Nelson, a promi- 
nent citizen of Yorktown, who had been very active in 
soothing the discontent among the people and upholding 
the authority of the king in the colony. The letter in- 
formed Mr. Nelson of Lord Dunmore's i^equest and his 
compliance with it, and then went on to express a hope 
that they would meet with no molestation in Williams- 
burg, as it was his determination, in such an event, to 
open his guns u2:»on Yorktown, which w^as full of defence- 
less women and children. You will easily understand tlie 
barbarity of this determination, when you consider that 
the people in Yorktown were in no way responsible for 
the acts of the people of Williamsburg, and that it was 
too late for them to protect themselves by an appeal to 
them, as the sailors had already gone to Williamsburg, 

Patrick Henry watched the progress of affairs with 
intense interest. He believed that the time had arrived 
for active measures, and allowed himself to be placed in 
command of a body of volunteers, organized for the pur- 
pose of retaking the powder which Lord Dunmore had 
stolen. The effect was magical. His name aroused the 
enthusiasm of the entire country. Companies of horse 
and foot flocked to his standard, and in a short time 
not less than five thousand men were in arms, ready 
to march at a moment's warning, and to undertake any 
work he might order. 

Lord Dunmore was alarmed, and sent a messenger to 
Mr. Henry, offering to pay for the powder which had been 
taken. This being the object which they were determined 
to accomplish, Mr. Henry and his men, after receiving the 
money, disbanded and returned in triumph to their homes. 
This incident, though it ended peacefully, convinced the 
governor an*! the British Ministry that Virginia was in 



184 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

earnest, and that it was dangerous to trifle with her ear- 
nestness. In the hoj^e of alia^-ing the excitement, Lord 
Dunmore summoned a meeting of the Assembly on the 
1st day of June. This was the last meeting of the House 
of Burgesses ; the next time these patriots assembled it was 
as a Legislature, to make laws for their government with 
out regard to royal auihority. 

The Burgesses assemble. — In obedience to this sum- 
mons, the Bui-gesses arrived in \yilliamsburg, when their 
serious, resolved faces showed their sense of coming danger. 
Many of them wore hunting-shirts, and brought in their 
hands the rifles which were afterwards used upon the field 
of battle. At tbe opening of the session the governor made 
a very courteous speech, in which he said that England was 
ready to hold out the olive-branch of peace, provided the 
Virginians would agree to pay their proportion of the 
public debt of the mother-country. If this oifer had 
been made at an earlier period, there is little doubt that 
it would have been accepted ; but Virginia began to be 
conscious of her strength, and was in no mood to be 
conciliated by half measures. Thomas Jefl^erson pre- 
sented a paper to the House, in which he declared that 
the people of Virginia had a right to bestow their money 
where they pleased, and that they would not be forced by 
taxation or otherwise to pour it into the treasury of Eng- 
land, who had invaded their country- by sea and land, and 
from whom they had nothing to expect but injustice and 
oppression, but in spite of whom they intended, by the 
help of heaven, to gain their I'ights. 

An Infamous Plot. — Soon after this tlie Vii-ginians 
were further inflamed by the discovery of an infamous 
plot of Lord Dunmore's for destroying his opponents in 
the Assembly. On the night of the 5th of June several 
young men went into the magazine at Williamsburg for 
the purpose of getting arms. As they passed the door a 



HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 185 

cord attached to it fired off a spring-gun, by which one 
of the men had his shoulder torn to pieces, and another 
lost three of his fingers. When this catastrophe became 
known, the fact was recalled that Lord Bunmore had 
always kept the key of the magazine, and had that very 
day officially insisted upon giving it into the possession 
of the House of Burgesses, in order that they might in- 
vestigate the removal of the gunpowder. 

Suspicion being thus aroused, an examination was 
forthwith made, and the diabolical plot revealed itself. 
Three or four barrels of gunpowder were found concealed 
under the floor of the magazine, intended to be used, 
doubtless, as a mine to blow up the committee appointed 
to investigate the matter of the powder removal. The 
indignation of the people at this discovery was extreme, 
and there is no telling what punishment they might not 
have inflicted upon the wicked governor, had he not taken 
the alarm and fled from the palace with his wife and ser- 
vants. He took refuge on board the '• Fowey," at York- 
town. The House of Burgesses despatcher] a message to 
him assuring him of safety, and of their readiness to 
unite with him in restoring order to the country. He 
could not be induced to trust his precious person in their 
hands, but sent the House an insolent order to come on 
board the "Fowey" to consult with him there. Of course 
this was declined ; all correspondence between Dunmore 
and the Assembly ceased, and soon afterwards the House 
of Burgesses adjourned. With it passed away forever the 
royal authority in Virginia. 

The War begins. — Before their separation, the mem- 
bers agreed to meet in convention at Eichmond, and there 
they instituted vigorous measures for arming Virginia. 
War was no longer a matter of doubt. Washington (who 
may be termed the sword of Virginia, as Patrick Henry 
was her tongue and Thomas Jefferson her pen) was with 

16" 



18G HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

the main army in the North, — having been appointed Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the Continental Army by Congress, June 
15. 1775, — where the Eevolution had fairly commenced. 
Arrangements for the defence of Virginia were not begun 
a moment too soon, for the malignant and treacherous Dun- 
moi'e was taking every step for her total ruin. He had 
sailed out of York Eiver in the '• Fowey," and had fixed his 
head-quarters at Norfolk, then the most flourishing town 
in Virginia. Under his command, besides the " Fowey," 
were three other vessels, — the " Mercurj^," the *• Kingfisher," 
and the •' Otto," — besides a number of smaller vessels. 

The Victory at Hampton. — Xow look on your maps 
for Norfolk; a short distance off, and at the end of the 
peninsula between York and James Elvers, you will see 
the little town of Hampton. Here the first battle in Vir- 
ginia was fought. For some time the small vessels of Lord 
Dunmore had been harassing the coast, plundering the 
people and destroying their property, and the tow^n of 
Hampton was daily expecting an attack. The people 
made such simple arrangements for their defence as their 
limited means allowed. Eemember that Virginia had no 
navy and no regularly organized army, and Avas in these 
respects no match for the English under Lord Dunmore. 
But the battle is not always with the strong, and vigilance, 
activity, and bravery in a good cause sometimes make up 
for the difference in numbers. 

Colonel Woodford, with the Culpeper riflemen, num- 
bering one hundred men, hearing of the expected attack, 
marched all night through a heavy rain, and at eight 
o'clock on the morning of the 25th of October was re ad}- to 
aid the gallant militia at Hampton in repelling the attack. 
He found them emboldened by a slight success they had 
met with the day before, when six tenders full of armed 
men under Captain Squires had approached the town, and 
not expecting any opposition, had landed under a heavy 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 187 

fire to cover their attack. To their surprise, they were 
received by a shower of rifle-bullets ; marksmen concealed 
behind fences and in the town poured a precise and deadly 
fire upon them, and they were glad to escape to their boats, 
which they did not accomplish without the loss of a great 
many men. 

The Virginians, reinforced by Colonel Woodford and 
bis riflemen, awaited quietly the second attack. They had 
sunk obstructions in the river immediately in front of the 
town, but these the British removed in the night, and in 
the morning they discovered the fleet drawn up in the 
harbor with the guns bearing upon the town. Do not 
forget that in this fight the Virginians had no fire-arms but 
their rifles to oppose the English cannon. When the can- 
nonade commenced, the riflemen drew close to the water's 
edge, and concealing themselves behind trees, bushes, 
houses, and fences, opened their unerring fire upon the 
British vessels. The men at the guns w^ere killed, and not 
a sailor touched a. sail without being shot by the deadly 
balls from the Virginia rifles. Soon confusion was mani- 
fested upon the British decks. It w^as impossible to guide 
the vessels or to man the guns, because of the fatal pre- 
cision of the Virginia riflemen. In dismay, the British 
tried to draw off and make their escape into the bay. 
Some succeeded, but tw^o of the tenders drifted ashore and 
were captured, with a great many . prisoners. There can 
be no doubt as to which was the victorious party in this 
the first battle of the Eevolution upon the soil of Virginia ; 
it was with great difficulty that any of the vessels escaped. 
A number of men went down to a narrow channel to op- 
pose the egress of the British into the bay, and the whole 
fleet would have been captured but for the report that a 
large body of the British were advancing from another di- 
rection. The Virginians retreated and the vessels escaped. 
Dunmore's next Proceedings.— Soon afterwards an 



188 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



attack made by Dunmore upon Jamestown was repelled 
with great spirit. Alarmed at the boldness everywhere 




ATTACK OX HAMPTON. 



manifested, and seeing the great necessity for striking a 
blow that would create terror and discouragement, Dun- 
more left Norfolk and went to Princess Anne County, to 



HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 189 

capture some cannon which belonged to the colonists. He 
took with him a large force, composed of regulars, fugitive 
slaves, and Tories (the name given to those who took the 
part of England against their own countrymen). En- 
countering a • body of Virginia militia under Colonel 
Hutchinffs, thev attacked them suddenlv, threw them into 
confusion, and the Virginians retreated, leaving Colonel 
Hutchings wounded upon the field. 

His Proclamation. — One would think from Lord Dun- 
more's exultation over this slight success that all opposition 
had been overcome ; and, emboldened hj it, he issued a 
proclamation commanding everybody to return to their 
allegiance to his Majesty the king, under penalty of being 
declared traitors and having their property confiscated. 
This, so far from striking terror to the hearts of the colo- 
nists, as he expected it would do, had just the opposite 
effect; for the Virginians everywhere left their ordinary 
employments and flocked to arms, and the difficulty of the 
committee on military affairs was not how to obtain men, 
but to furnish them arms and ammunition. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

' 1. In what year did the?e events take place? 

2. What effect did the news have on Lord Dunmore? 

3. What steps did he take to reduce the Virginians to helplessness? 

4. What did the Council do, and what reply did Dunmore make? 
6. What effect did this have upon the citizens? 

6. What was Lord Dunmore's next step, and how was he aided in his 

designs by the captain of the '' Fowey" ? 

7. How did Patrick Henry interfere at this juncture, and with what 

effect ? 

8. What was the effect of these proceedings on the governor ? 

9. Give an account of the meeting of the House of Burgesses. 

10. Did they accept terms from England ? 

11. What plot was now discovered, and how? 

12. What did Lord Dunmore do ? 

13. Give an account of the adiournment of the last House of Burgesses. 



190 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

14. How did the people of Virginia employ themselves ? 

15. Who were the three most influential men in Virginia, and how may 

they be described? 

16. To what position was Washington called, and when ? 

17. What was Lord Dunmore's situation? 

18. Give an account of the first battle of the Revolution in Virginia. 

19. Which sido had the advantage in numbers and munitions of war? 

20. Who commanded the Virginians? 

21. Which side gained the victory? 

22. Who were the Tories? 

23. What slight advantage did Dnnmore soon after gain ? 

24. What effect did this success have upon the opposing parties ? 



CHAPTER XXI 1 1. 

1775. — CONTIXUED. 

DUNMORE INCITES THE INDIANS TO THE MASSACRE OF THE 
WHITES — RATTLE OF GREAT BRIDGE — NORFOLK BURNED— 
GWYNN'S ISLAND. 

Dunmore's Infamous Plot. — An event now occurred 
which exasperated tlie people still more against the in- 
famous Dunmore. A man named Connelly, who was sus- 
pected of carrjnng communications from Dunmore to the 
British commander, General Gage, at Boston, was arrested 
at Hagerstown, Maryland. Upon searching his baggage, 
a large sum of money was found, and the outline of a 
scheme for the ruin of Yiri^inia. There was a letter fi'om 
Dunmore, addressed to ^Yhite-Eyes, an Indian chief written 
in the figurative and flowery style which he supposed 
would please the Indians. He begs his "dear brother. 
Captain White-Eyes," to call together Cornstalk and all 
the other chiefs, and entreats them to take up the hatchet 
against the '' Long Knives" (which was their name for the 
Virginians). As a reward for this, he ])romised them rich 
presents and ample protection, in addition to the money 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 191 

sent by Connelly. Comment is unnecessary; for how can 
we sutficiently condemn the man who, not content with 
rousing the slaves to fight against their masters, was now 
inciting savages to bring the tomahawk and scalping-knife 
upon the defenceless inhabitants of Virginia? Happily, 
his machinations were defeated. 

The Opposing Armies. — About twelve miles from 
l^orfolk, the G-reat Bridge crossed a branch of Elizabeth 
Hiver. It was surrounded by a swamp, through which a 
road led to the city. On a little piece of firm ground on 
the Norfolk side Lord Dunmore had erected a fort which 
commanded the bridge. The Virginians took possession 
of a small village a short distance off. In this state the 
two armies remained for several days, watching each other, 
and prepared to seize upon any circumstance which would 
give one the advantage over the other. This Great Bridge 
was looked upon as a very important point, commanding 
the possession of the city of Norfolk. 

A Virginian Stratagem. — In order to precipitate a 
contest, the Virginians had recourse to a stratagem. A 
negro boy, belonging to Major Marshall, was sent to Lord 
Biinmore. He represented himself as a deserter, and re- 
ported that the Virginians had only three hundred " shirt 
men," a term used to distinguish the patriots, whose only 
uniform was the graceful hunting-shirt, which afterwards 
became so celebrated in the Ee volution. Believing this 
story, Bunmore gave vent to his exultation, as he thought 
that he saw before him the opportunity of wreaking ven- 
geance upon the Virginians. He mustered his whole force, 
and gave the order for marching out in the night and 
forcing the breastworks of his hated foe. In order to 
stimulate his troops to desperate deeds he told them that 
the Virginians were no better than savages, and were 
wanting in courage and determination; that in all proba- 
bility they would not stand fire at all ; but if by any chance 



192 HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 

they were permitted to triumph, the English need expect 
no quarter, as they would be scalped according to the rules 
of savage warfare. 

The British defeated. — Early in the morning of De- 
cember 9, the Virginians beheld the enemy advancing 
towards their breastworks. They were commanded by 
Captain Fordj^ce, a brave officer. Waving his cap over 
his head, he led his men, in the face of a terrible fire which 
ran all along the American lines, directly up to the breast- 
works. He received a shot in the knee and foil f )rward, 
but jumping up, he brushed his knee as if he had only 
stumbled. In a moment afterwards he fell again, pierced 
by fourteen bullets. The death of their commander threw 
everything into confusion. The officer next in command to 
Fordyce was mortally wounded ; other officrrs were pros- 
trate with wounds, and many privates had fallen. In this 
desperate situation a precipitate retreat towards their fort 
at Norfolk was the only resource left to the English. 

Pursuit. — But they were not allowed to escape without 
a vigorous pursuit. It was conducted by the brave Colonel 
Stevens, who captured many prisoners, and, what was still 
more valuable, two pieces of cannon. The loss of the 
British in this engagement was one hundred and two killed 
and wounded. One of the Virginians, writing of the scene, 
says, "I saw the horrors of war in perfection, worse than 
•can be imagined: ten and twelve bullets through many, 
limbs broken in iwo or three places, brains turning out. 
Good God! what will satisfy the governor? The only 
damage to our men was a wound in the finger of one of 
them." 

Virginian Humanity. — After the account they had 
received of the savage barbarity they might expect from 
the Virginians, the Knglish soldiers who fell into their 
hands were astonished to find themselves not only humanely 
but courteously treated. One poor fellow who lay wounded 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 193 

upon the field, see^.ng his captor approach, cried out, •' For 
God's sake, do no^ scalp me !" He was answered, " Put 
your arm around my neck, and I will show you what I in- 
tend to do." Taking him in his arms, he bore him tenderly 
along till he laid him down within the breastworks. The 
gallant Fordyce was buried with military honors. Lieu- 
tenant Battul, the second in command, wounded and a 
prisoner, sent a letter under a flag of truce to hi* comrades, 
in which he gratefully acknowledged the kindness and 
courtesy he had received. 

The Virginia Convention at their next meeting voted 
a letter of approbation to Colonel Woodford, the officer in 
command of the patriots, and instructed him always to 
treat the vanquished with lenity and kindness. Such 
conduct on the part of the Virginians cannot be too 
much admired. The Convention obeyed the Scripture 
injunction to " return evil with good ;" as Dunmore had 
not only heaped insult and contumely upon them, but 
had basely plotted their destruction by treachery, fire, 
and sword, by the furious savage and the brutal slave. 
We may well feel proud of a descent from such noble 
and generous spirits as the patriots of the Revolution. 

Dunmore's Cowardice. — ^Nothing could exceed the 
rage of Lord Dunmore at this defeat ; he raved like a 
madman, and threatened to hang the messenger who 
brought him the tidings, but there was no time for the 
indulgence of passion. Couriers arrived, saying that 
Woodford with his men was approaching Norfolk, as 
there was nothing now to obstruct his progress. Men, 
women, and children crowded the streets, entreating 
help ; for during the long occupation of the city by 
British troops the Tories had flocked into it from all 
parts of the State, and naturally feared to meet their 
injured countrymen. But they could hope for nothing 
from Lord Dunmore, who was brave enough when dan- 
I n 17 



194 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

ger was at a distance, but whose cowardly heart quailed 
at its approach. He measured his fears by his deserts, 
and thinking only of his own safety, w^ent hastily abroad 
a man-of-war in the harbor. All the Tories w^ho could 
took refuge on the English fleet. 

Norfolk occupied. — ]\lean while, Woodford had been re- 
inforc<.'d by Colonel Howe, of North Carolina, who brought 
with him four hundred fresh troops. They took possession 
of Norfolk without opposition, and were warmly welcomed 
by those brave citizens who had remained faithful to their 
country in its hour of trial. Woodford issued a proclamation 
offering protection to the country people, and inviting them 
to bring their supplies into the town. We read of but one 
punishment meted out to those who had been most active 
in betraying their country. Such of them as were taken 
in arms were sent to places of confinement handcuffed with 
their negro fellow-soldiers; this was considered but just, 
they having fought against their country upon equal 
terms with the negroes. 

Dunmore's Requisitions. — It might now be hoped, 
and naturally expected, that Dunmore, having retired 
from the town, would not seek to molest or injure it in 
any way, particularly as he knew that a large portion of 
its inhabitants were friendly to him ; but what did he care 
for his friends? His kindly consideration never went 
beyond himself He at first contented himself with idle 
threats and clamors for provisions. He had been so 
long accustomed to luxuries, that he could ill bear being 
reduced to the naval stores, and reinforced his larder con 
stantl}^ by marauding upon the unprotected plantations 
and tow^ns- upon tlie rivers ; but even this did not satisfy 
him ; he must have those luxuries which the city of Nor- 
folk alone could afford him, and he sent a message to the 
commanders that he would be sorry to fire upon the town, 
but that he should do so unless a plentiful supply of pro- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



195 



visions were sent to him and his men. This of course was 
refused ; but a supply was continually sent for the captain's 
private table, which did not satisfy the unreasonable com- 
mander, and was made the excuse for burning the city of 
Norfolk to the ground. 




BURNING OF NORFOLK. 



'— -^^ ^ 



Norfolk bombarded and burned. — 

This happened on the 1st day of Janu- 
ary, 1776, a year which from its begin- 
ning to its end was replete with momen- 
tous events to the people of America. 
Between three and four o'clock in the 
afternoon the English opened a heavy 
cannonade upon the devoted city; under 
cover of this, some sailors landed and set fire to a number 




196 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

of wooden houses upon the wharves. The efforts of the 
Americans to stop the conflagration were unsuccessful; 
the wind was against them and blew fiercely from the 
shore, carrying the burning timbers into the heart of the 
town. The horrors of the scene were heightened by the 
continuous roar of the cannon from the ships and the 
musketry from the shore; for fighting was going on 
above the ruins of the houses. The intrepid Stevens 
added to his fame in this affair, as he rushed to the 
water's side and drove back a large party of British 
who had just landed, and compelled them, amidst slaughter, 
to retreat. The fire lasted for three days, and nine-tenths 
of this, the most flourishing and richest town in Virginia, 
were destroyed. Its beautiful harbor and other natural 
advantages had promoted its growth, and wealtli had 
poured in upon it. Such was the great catastrophe which 
deprived four thousand people of their homes. 

Patriotism. — Those who were truly Virginian were too 
much interested in the success of their struggle to mind 
mere personal loss. One of these patriots wrote to a 
friend upon this occasion, " We do not care for our 
towns, and the destruction of our houses does not cost 
us a sigh. I have long since given up mine as lost ; and 
I feel such indignation against the authors of our calami- 
ties, and such concern for the public at large, that I cannot 
think of my own puny person and insignificant affairs." 

A Piratical Cruise. — And now the career of the 
wretched Dunmore was happily drawing to a close. His 
fleet consisted not only of men-of-war, but of more than 
fifty transports, filled with unhappy Tories and negroes 
and a rabble of convicts and other low characters, all of 
whom had to be fed. So he cruised up and down the bay, 
landing at one place, burning a house, stealing private 
property at another, and committing depredations of 
every sort after his own fiishion. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 197 

General Lee. — Just at this time Congress appointeji 
Major-General Charles Lee to the command of the forces 
in Virginia. This celebrated person was an Englishman 
by birth, a soldier of fortune, of an adventurous spirit, 
brave, and talented, but of a temper which afterwards 
was the cause of much trouble in the army. In his later 
career he aspired to the position of commander-in-chief, 
and his jealousy of Washington led to such acts of in- 
subordination that he was finally court-martialled and 
dismissed from the army. 

Lee saw that the only way to deal with Dunmore was 
to cutoff his supplies; so he ordered that all the inhab- 
itants near to the sea-coast, with their live stock and other 
proj^erty, should be removed to the interior ; and that any 
Virginian who should be found in correspondence with the 
enemy should be treated as a traitor, and be sent a hand- 
cuffed prisoner to Williamsburg. These seemed to be 
harsh measures, but they were necessarj^ commands, and 
their wisdom was soon evident, for Lord Dunmore found 
himself and companions in imminent danger of starvation. 
But the brave Dunmore was not easily daunted in pursuit 
of creature comforts. 

Gwynn's Island. — There lies at the mouth of the river 
Piankatank, in Matthews County, a beautiful island, now 
called Gwynn's Island. It contains about two thousand 
acres of land, its natural fertility had been greatly im- 
proved by cultivation, and it abounded in fruits, vegeta- 
bles, fine water, cattle, and everything that could make it 
a desirable asylum for the floating colony of Lord Dun- 
more. General Lee had stationed his vigilant soldiers 
along the shore, to keep watch over the English fleet and 
prevent any landing from it. The guards were surprised 
to see the whole flotilla come out of Hampton Eoads. one 
May morning, and, after sailing in one direction, and then 
in another, until the watchers were completely puzzled, 

17* 



198 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

suddenly put on all sail and move rapidly up the bay. 
Before the object of these manoeuvres could be guessed 
the fleet had entered the mouth of Eappabannock Eiver, 
and the motley crew had occupied and intrenched them- 
selves on Gvvynn's Island. They were not to remain mas- 
ters of this Eden ; the mark of Cain was imprinted on their 
foreheads, and the Yirginians could not rest satisfied while 
this degraded band, with their execrated leader, found 
refuge within their territory. 

The Fleet repulsed. — General Andrew Lewis with a 
party of men was sent to dislodge them. This brave offi- 
cer had already distinguished himself in the fight with 
the Indians at Mount Pleasant, and he joyfully accepted 
a position which would give him the opportunity of chas- 
tising one who had been a greater enemy to Virginia than 
all of the savages combined. He threw up intrench men ts 
on a point of land opposite Gvvynn's Island, and upon these 
mounted his great guns. The enemy, intrenched within 
fortifications on the island, with their ships lying in the 
deep waters around, could be plainlj^ seen. One of the 
ships, the " Dunmore," lay about five hundred yards from 
the shore. General Lewis himself opened the engagement 
by firing a gun at tliis vessel, aboard of which was the 
governor. The great cannon gave a roar as it sent out ite 
terrible messenger, which passed directly through the hull 
of the vessel and did great damage. It was followed by 
another ball, and then another, each of which did its duty 
nobly, breaking the timber and scattering splinters in every 
direction. One of the latter wounded Dunjnore, smashed 
his china around him, and so frightened his lordship that 
he cried out, "Good God! that ever I should have come to 
this." The fight did not last very long. The captains of 
the vessels were glad enough to cut their cables and make 
off in great haste, and yet they would all have been cap- 
tured had not the wind favored their retreat. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 199 

General Lewis could not immediately go over to the 
island for the want of boats ; but the next morning, having 
collected a sufficient number to transport his troops, he 
crossed over. A terrible scene met his eyes. During the 
month in which Duumore had held possession of this beau- 
tiful island, the small-pox and other diseases had committed 
such ravages upon his miserable crew that five hundred are 
supposed to have died ; corpses in a state of putrefaction 
lay strewed along the shore in half-dug trenches, and miser- 
able dying creatures had crawled to the water's edge to beg 
that they might be saved from death. The enemy in their 
haste left behind them a great deal of valuable property, 
which fell into the hands of the victors. 

Dunmore's Final Proceedings. — Driven from this 
retreat, Dunmore found another on St. George's Island in 
the Potomac Eiver, and this too he was soon compelled to 
abandon. While ascending the river, he landed near the 
mouth of Acquia Creek, and wantonly burnt a beautiful 
dwelling belonging to Mr. Brent, and was proceeding to 
destroy a valuable mill hard by, when the Prince William 
militia arrived and drove him to his boats. The fleet 
dropped down the river on the ensuing day, and some 
of his vessels, driven ashore by a gale of wind, were lost. 
As one resource after another failed him, his malignant 
spirit began to break. The excessive heat of the season, 
the impurity of the w^ater, the bad quality and scanty 
supply of provisions, engendered fearful diseases in the 
crowded vessels, which hourly plunged numbers into a 
watery grave. Thus loaded with the execrations of the 
people he had been appointed to govern, defeated in all his 
schemes for their ruin, hunted from place to place by their 
just resentment, Dunmore found himself a fugitive from 
the land where he had hoped to plant the standard of vic- 
tory, and upon whose people he had sought to wreak a 
terrible vengeance. He returned to England, and here 



200 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

our history leaves hira. He never returned to the shores 
of Virginia, and her people will never forget the events 
which connected him w4th her history. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What is the date of these events? 

2. What discovery was made which still further exasperated the Virgin- 

ians against Dixnmore? 

3. Where was the Great Bridge, and what was its importance? 

4. To what stratagem did the Virginians resort in order to bring on the 

fight? 
6. How did Lord Dunmore receive the news? 

6. How did he seek to stimulate his troops ? 

7. Who commanded the English? 

8. Give an account of their advance. 

9. Give an account of the battle. 

10. How is the scene described? 

11. How did the victors behave to their prisoners? 

12. What did the Virginia Convention do? 

13. How did Lord Dunmore behave under defeat? 

14. What course did he adopt ? 

15. Give an account of the occupation of Norfolk by the Virginia troops 

16. AVhat was Dunmore's course? 

17. What dastardly revenge did he next take? 

18. Give an account of the burning of Norfolk. 

19. How did the patriots feel about the loss of their property ? 

20. What class of persons composed Dunmore's fleet? 

21. Who was appointed to the command of the Virginia forces? 

22. What steps did he take ? 

23. Describe the retreat of Dunmore to Gwynn's Islaod. 

24. Whnt steps were taken to dislodge him ? 

25. Describe the battle and retreat of Dunmore. 

26. What condition of affairs was discovered on the islandr 
?7. Where did Dunmore next go? 

28. What was the end of his story? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 201 

CHAPTEE XXIY. 
1776. 

THE GENERAL CONVENTION MEETS AT WILLIAMSBURG — DECLA- 
RATION OF RIGHTS-DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE-PATRICK 
HENRY CHOSEN GOVERNOR-THE SEAL OF VIRGINIA-RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM DECLARED-THE LAW OF PRIMOGENITURE. 

Virginia was now fairly launched in the War of the 
Eevolution. She had sought peace, but her plea having 
been rejected, she no longer wished for it, unless freedom 
came hand in hand with it. The blood of her sons had 
been shed, her towns had been desolated, and her property 
pillaged by the king's troops. More than once the British 
had been forced to acknowledge her victory over them upon 
hard-fought fields, and now, while her soldiers were winning 
freedom with the sword, her statesmen were carving out for 
her a government worthy to last through all succeeding 
generations. 

A Convention, composed of delegates from all of the 
counties of Yirginia, met at Williamsburg in May, 1776, 
to consider the best course for Yirginia to take in this 
crisis. On the 15th of the month, Mr. Archibald Gary, of 
Chesterfield, off'ered a resolution to the following effect: 
that forasmuch as all the efforts of the united colonies had 
failed to obtain from the king and Parliament of Great 
Britain that security for life and property which they had 
a right to demand, and as all their representations and 
petitions for a redress of their grievances had been met 
by an imperious and vindictive administration w^th in- 
creased insult and oppression and a vigorous attempt to 
secure their total destruction, and as the representative of 
the king in this co,lony had retired on board an armed ship 
and instituted a savage war upon them, they had no alter- 



202 HISTORr OF VIRGINIA. 

native but abject submission to or total separation from 
Great Britain : " therefore we unanimously resolve, appeal- 
ing to the Searcher of hearts for help in defending the jus- 
tice of our cause, that the delegates appointed to represent 
this colony in the General Congress be instructed to propose 
to that body to declare the united colonies free and inde- 
pendent States, absolved from all allegiance to or dependence 
on Great Britain, and to give the assent of this colony to 
any measure deemed necessary for the good of the whole, 
provided the power of forming a government for, and the 
regulations of, each colony be left to the respective Legis- 
latures of each colony." It was further unanimously re- 
solved that " a committee be appointed to prepare a Decla- 
ration of Eights and such a plan of government as shall be 
most likely to maintain law and order and secure sub- 
stantial and equal benefit and liberty to the people." 

George Mason, who wrote the Bill of State Rights in 
1776, also drew up a constitution for the State, which was 
adopted five days before the Declaration of Independence. 
Virginia asserted her independence of Great Britain on 
June 29, 1776, and the United States on the 4th of July 
following. One of Virginia's most gifted sons * thus pictures 
the grand act by which Virginia addressed herself to the 
solemn and responsible act of self-government: "On that 
day Virginia exhibited to the world a grand spectacle; it 
was on that day that she renounced her colonial depend- 
ence on Great Britain, and separated herself from that 
kingdom. Then it was that, bursting the manacles of a 
foreign tyranny, she in the same moment imposed upon her- 
self the salutary restraints of law and order. In that mo- 
ment she commenced the work of forming a government 
complete within itself, and having perfected that work, 
she, on the 29th of June in the same year, performed the 



Judge Beverley Tucker. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 203 

highest functions of independent sovereignty by adopting, 
ordaining, and establishing the Constitution under which 
all of us wer;^ born ! Then it was that, sufficient to her- 
self for all the purposes of government, she prescribed 
that oath of fealty and allegiance to her sole and separate 
sovereignty, which all of us who have held any office under 
her authority have solemnly called upon the Searcher of 
hearts to witness and record. At that time it could not 
be certainly known that the other colonies would take the 
same decisive step. It was indeed expected. In the same 
breath in which Virginia had declared her independence 
she had advised it. She had instructed her delegates in 
the General Congress to urge it, and it was by the voice of 
one of her sons,* whose name will ever live in history, that 
the word of power was spoken at which the chains that 
bound the colonies to the parent kingdom fell asunder, as 
flax that severs at the touch of fire. But even then, and 
while the terms of the general Declaration of Indepen- 
dence were yet unsettled, hers had already gone forth. 
The voice of her defiance was already ringing in the ears 
of the tyrant, hers was the cry that determined him to the 
strife, hers was the shout that invited his vengeance. ' Me 5 
me! Adsum qui feci. In me convertite ferrum!' "f 

Mr. George Mason, of Gunston Hall, on the Potomac, 
was a retiring country gentleman, not ambitious of political 
prominence, but destined by Providence to do a work for 
Virginia which must always place him in the front rank 
as a patriot and a man of genius, for it was he who, as we 
have seen, framed both the Bill of Eights and the first 
Constitution for the government of the State. 

In the Declaration of Rights the principle was main- 
tained that all men being entitled to certain rights, — 

* Thomas Jefferson. 

■\ Translation: " Me ! me ! Here am I who have done it; against me direct 
thy sword." 



204 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, the means of 
acquiring and possessing property, and of obtaining hap- 
piness and safety, — the government of a country ought 
to be administered for the protection of the people and 
the maintenance of these rights, and that '' whereas, 
George the Third, King of Great Britain, had endeavored 
to pervert the government of Virginia into an insupport- 
able tyranny, by imposing taxes without the consent of 
the people, by cutting oif their trade with all parts of the 
world, by plundering their seas, ravaging their coasts, burn- 
ing their towns, and destroying their lives ; by inciting the 
negroes to rise in arms against them, and endeavoring to 
bring upon the inhabitants of the frontiers the merciless 
Indian savages, whose known rule of' warfare is an utter 
destruction of all ages, sexes, and condition of existence, 
and by answering their repeated petitions for redress by 
a repetition of injuries, — that for these and many other 
acts of misrule and tyranny, the government of Virginia, 
as exercised under the crown of Great Britain, is totally 
dissolved." 

Public rejoicing. — This decisive step produced the 
greatest benefit; it removed all doubt and uncertainty 
from the public mind ; the people felt that separation 
from Great Britain was a fixed fact, and demonstrations 
of joy everywhere showed the poj^ular approval of the 
course the Convention had taken. At Williamsburg mili- 
tary parades, discharges of artillery, dinners, toasts, and 
general illuminations show^ed the pleasure which both the 
citizens and soldiers felt at the decisive step which dissolved 
their union with a tyrannical and unnatural mother. 

Declaration of Independence. — The Declaration of 
Eights in Virginia was soon followed by the Declaration 
of Independence, in which all of the American colonies 
united. This was written by Thomas Jefferson, to whom, 
you will remember, we have given the title of the "Pen of 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 205 

Yirginia." It expressed the same sentiments as the Decla^ 
ration of Rights, which you know was the worlc of George 
Mason. It was adopted on the 4th of July, 1776. Each 
colony then framed a constitution for its separate govern- 
ment. This was to consist of a governor and a legisla- 
ture ; the duty of the latter was to make laws, and that 
of the governor to execute them. Besides, there were to 
be three different courts, which were to make decisions in 
doubtful cases. For instance, the legislature makes a 
law that every murderer must hang; when a man be- 
comes liable to this penalty, he is tried first by the lowest 
court, and if condemned, he has a right to demand a trial 
by a second court, and then again by a third ; if ail of iho 
courts find him guilty of murder, he is condemned to die, 
and the governor has to order his execution. 

Patrick Henry was chosen the first governor of 
Virginia. His appointment was received by all classes 
with the greatest satisfaction. A committee was ap- 
pointed to wait upon him and inform him of the honor 
which had been conferred upon him. The regiments which 
he had commanded since the beginning of tiie troubles con- 
gratulated him in the warmest terms upon his unsolicited 
election " to the highest honor which a free people could 
bestow." " Once happy under your military command," 
they said, " we hope for more extended blessings under 
your civil administration ; our hearts are willing and 
our arms are ready to support your authority as chief 
magistrate, happy that we have lived to see the day 
when freedom and equal rights, established by the voice 
of the people, shall prevail throughout the land." In 
returning thanks for this address, so expressive of their 
confidence and affection, after announcing his determina- 
tion to do all in his power for the safety, dignity, and 
happiness of the new commonwealth of Virginia, the 
governor went on to say that^ whilst the officers of the 

18 



206 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



State were exerting themselves to create such a form 
of government as would best conduce to the happiness 




"«s3*a»aBKTH| 



THIO MILITAUY COXGRATULATING PATRICK HENRY UPON HIS ELKCTION. 

and welfare of the people, it remained for them, the 
soldiers, to save by their valor all that was most pre- 
cious to mankind. "Go on, gentlemen^" he said, "to 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 207 

finish the great work which you have so nobly and sue 
•cessfully begun; convince tyrants that they shall bleed, 
and that you will bleed to the last drop before their 
wicked schemes find success." 

Patriotic Enthusiasm. — And now, perhaps, you will 
wonder that these brave young colonists were not dis- 
mayed at the perils which surrounded them. In their 
weakness they had defied the strongest power in Europe; 
yet their hearts beat high. What to them was the smallness 
of their army and their empty treasury? Free and inde- 
pendent they were determined to live, or not to live at all. 

All through the country the same enthusiasm was 
manifested which characterized Virginia. The American 
army was then at New York. The Declaration was read 
to each brigade; it was listened to in respectful silence, 
which was followed by bursts of enthusiastic applause. In 
the evening the equestrian statue of George III., which 
had been erected six years before, was laid prostrate, and 
the lead of which it was composed was converted into 
bullets to fight him with. Eather a comical idea, don't 
3^ou think ? to make old George assist in his own destruc- 
tion. 

In Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore demonstra- 
tions even more enthusiastic than those we have detailed 
occurred. Everj^ trace of royalty Avas obliterated; you 
would have thought that the people were taking off the 
sword of victory instead of putting it on to fight for 
victoiy. 

The Seal of Virginia. — After the constitution of Vir- 
ginia had been adopted, the subject of interest which next 
engaged her statesmen was the choice of a device and 
motto for her seal ; for every country, you know, has its 
seal. A great many suggestions were made, but at length, 
after much discussion, one proposed by Mr. George Wythe 
was chosen. You have doubtless seen it. A female figure, 




208 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

resting on a spear with one hand and holding a sword in 
the other, represents Virtue ; her foot rests upon the neck 
of Tyranny, represented by a prostrate man, with a crown 
falling from his head, a broken 
chain in his left hand, and a 
scourge in his right. Over the 
head of the female figure is en- 
graved the words " Sic Semper Ty- 
rannis^'' which means " Thus al- 
ways to tyrants," and underneath, 
" Virginia." 

Laws against Dissenters.— 
VIRGINIA. rpj^g convention which met this 

memorable year did not complete its work. I have told 
you more than once in the course of this history that the 
early government of Virginia was formed after the model 
of that in England. In the first place, the English or 
Episcopal was the established Church, and although many 
efforts had been made to do away w^ith some of the restric- 
tions imposed upon other denominations, and to some ex- 
tent tolerance had been granted, yet the laws against " Dis- 
senters" (as all who were not menibers of the Church of 
England were called) were still in full force, and were very 
oppressive. All dissenting congregations had to support 
not only their own ministers, but also had to contribute to 
the support of the Episcopal Church. Moreover, tiiey 
were liable to be tried and punished for serving God 
through the forms they most approved. All of the dif- 
ferent religious sects were now represented in Virginia, and 
there was much bitterness of feeling between them and the 
established Church. That peaceable sect called Quakers, 
strange to tell, were held in particular aversion and sub- 
jected to special persecution. 

Liberty of Conscience. — But now a spirit of freedom 
pervaded all classes, and the time had come to apply the 



HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 209 

same spirit to religion. The Legislature of Virginia was 
beset with petitions from dissenting denominations that 
the laws which placed one church above another might be 
repealed, and that a free people might worship God by 
whatever for^n they thought best. Stormy were the dis- 
cussions between the members advocating the different 
sides of this question. Edmund Pendleton, the venerable 
Speaker of the House, was a strenuous advocate for the 
Episcopal Church, while Thomas Jefferson, in the spirit in 
which Mason dictated the Declaration of Eights for Yir- 
ginia and he himself the Declaration of Independence for 
America, strongly urged religious freedom. After some 
time be succeeded in establishing his views, and that most 
valuable of all liberty, liberty of conscience, was secured 
to a free people. 

Primogeniture. — Another English law which had been 
in force in Virginia up to this time remained to be repealed ; 
of this I must tell you. It was called the law of " Primo- 
geniture." In England, when a rich man dies, he does not 
divide his property equally among his children, but the 
great bulk of it descends to his eldest son, who is called 
his " heir." The advantage of this is that it prevents the 
property from being cut up, and keeps it in the family for 
centuries ; but the disadvantages are greater than the ad- 
vantages ; for while it places one son, not from any merit 
of his own, in wealth and luxury, it forces the others, with- 
out fault of theirs, to a life of comparative poverty and 
toil. This unjust law was now repealed, — that is, done away 
with, — and all the members of one family were placed on an 
equal footing. I have been thus particular to make you com- 
prehend these things, which may at first seem a little dull to 
you, because they constitute a very important part of the 
history of Virginia, and show you by what rapid strides her 
government came forth from the despotism of the British 
monarchy into the full, free light of constitutional freedom. 

18* 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. In what year did these events take place ? 

2. What was now the situation of Virginia ? 

3. What was the action of the General Convention ? 

4. Who wrote the Declaration of Rights? 

5. What did it lay down as a principle ? 

6. How had the rights of the colony been violated ? 

7. In view of these things what did the paper declare? 

8. What effect did this step produce? 

9. What followed the Declaration of Rights? 

10. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? 

11. When was it adopted? 

12. What was the character of the State constitutions? 

13. Who was the first governor of Virginia? 

14. In what terms did his soldiers congratulate him? 

15. What did he answer? 

16. How did the colonies regard their situation? 

17. How was the Declaration of Independence received? 

18. Who furnished the device for the seal of Virginia? 

19. Describe it. 

20. What church had been the established Church of Virginia, and why? 

21. What objections were now made to this? 

22. What controversies arose, and how did they end? 

23. What other English law had been in force in Virginia? 

24. What were the provisions of this law ? 

25. Was it repealed? 

26. Why is it necessary for the student of Virginia history to understand 

these things ? 



CHAPTER XXY. 
1776-1781. 

TROUBLES IN THE STATE— FEARS OF A DICTATOR— LA FAYETTE AND 
DE KALB ARRIVE-THOMAS JEFFERSON APPOINTED GOVERNOR 
—BRITISH TROOPS ENTER HAMPTON ROADS— DEFEAT OF GEN- 
ERAL GATES IN NORTH CAROLINA — CONVENTION TROOPS IN 
ALBEMARLE. 

Discouragement. — Virginia, after passing through her 
first difficulties, was to find by a hard and bitter experi- 
ence that freedom was not to be obtained without a long 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 211 

struggle and many discouragements. The terrific sounds 
of war were now heard throughout the length and breadth 
of the land. Washington, struggling in vain against the 
disciplined troops of England, had been defeated at Long 
Island, and was now retreating through New Jersey and 
Delaware; while the enemy who followed on his track 
marked their course with rapine and violence. Fields 
were wasted, cattle destroyed, and houses burned. It is 
much easier to plan a great enterprise than to carry it 
through, the midst of dangers. Virginia, for a moment, 
bent beneath the blast ; her Legislature seemed to lose all 
hope, and to look beyond their present resources for help 
in this bitter hour. 

A Dictatorship projected.— One of the members re- 
called the history of Eome, who, when torn with intestine 
strife and deluged in blood, put a dictator at her head. 
Some of the Virginians who were struggling to escape 
from a tyrannical monarchy talked calmly of giving them- 
selves up to a far more dangerous government, in which 
the entire power was to be placed in the hands of one man, 
to be used as he pleased. Strange infatuation ! There is 
little doubt that Patrick Henry was the man thought of 
to fill the position of dictator, but it is not believed that 
he countenanced the idea for an instant. During the dis- 
cussion in the Legislature, the feelings for and against the 
proposition were bitter in the extreme ; the excitement be- 
came so great that it is said that the opponents not only 
would not speak to each other, but would not even walk 
on the same side of the street. One of the bitterest op- 
posers of the dictatorship was the Speaker of the House, 
the venerable Archibald Car}-, who, meeting the brother-in- 
law of Patrick Henry one day, addressed him with a great 
deal of passion and said, '• Sir, I am told that your brother 
wishes to be dictator; tell him for me that the day of his 
appointment shall be the day of his death, for he shall feel 



212 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

my dagger in his heart before the sunset of that day!" 
He was answered that Patrick Henry had never a2:>proved 
that or any other measures which would endanger the Hb- 
erties of the country. Had he been on the spot, one word 
from his eloquent tongue would have brought the Assembly 
to its senses ; but he had been obliged by sickness to go some 
distance into the c<juntry, and before he returned the mad- 
ness of the hour had jDassed away, and the project was aban- 
doned. The next year he was re-elected governor ; the man- 
ner in which he had performed the duties of the first term 
having more than satisfied his friends. 

La Fayette and De Kalb. — This same year there jDassed 
through the State of Virginia, on their way to join the 
American army in th<e North, two young foreign noblemen, 
Marquis de La Fa^^ette, a Frenchman, and Baron De Kalb, 
a German by birth but a brigadier-general in the French 
army. These distinguished men, who were about to do 
battle for American liberty, were received with the great- 
est enthusiasm by the Virginians. Their stay was brief, 
as they were anxious to join the army; but they were 
both destined to revisit Virginia, and La Fayette won most 
of his laurels in this State- during the closing scenes of the 
Revolution. 

For nearly three years after this time there was very 
little fighting in Virginia, although she took her full part 
in the war by her contributions of men and money. The 
fortunes of the united colonies during these j^ears were at 
their lowest ebb ; nothing but their determination to be 
free, or die in the attempt, could have supported them 
under their dreadful discouragements. There was one 
gleam of light, however, in the midst of the darkness, 
and this was a treaty with France, by which she not only 
acknowledged their independence of England, but prom- 
ised her assistance in securing it. This was the turning- 
point in the history of the Revolutionary War, as it had 



HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 213 

the double effect of encouraging the Americans and of 
discouraging the English. 

Jefferson elected Governor. — At the expiration of 
his second term of office as Governor of Virginia, Patrick 
Henry would have been re-elected by the unanimous voice 
of the people, as there was no one in the State who held 
more comj^lete sway over the inhabitants than he ; but he 
refused the honor, and Thomas Jefferson was appointed in 
his place. 

The British successes in the North were followed 
by still more decided victories in the South. Thus the 
English government began to look forward with certainty 
to the conquest of the entire country. Virginia was re- 
garded as the heart of the rebellion, and it was decided to 
carry their victorious arms into that State, as the surest 
way of bringing the war to a speedy conclusion. In May 
of this year a fleet of armed vessels, under the command 
of Admiral Collins, and carrying two thousand troops, 
entered Hampton Eoads. 

The Virginians had built a fort a short distance be- 
low Portsmouth, for the defence of Norfolk and Gosport 
navy-yard ; this was the first point of attack. The Ei'itish 
fleet attacked it in front, while land forces assaulted it in 
the rear. It did not hold out long. The Virginians, under 
Captain Matthews, had no means of defending themselves, 
so they abandoned the fort and took refuge in the Dis- 
mal Swamp. The whole country was thus left open to the 
British, who did not hesitate to take advantage of the op- 
portunity. Their course was marked by devastation ; they 
burned houses, and destroyed all property which they could 
not carry away. They burned the town of Suffolk, where 
there were a great many stores which had been accumu- 
lated for the use of the army, and after having laid waste 
the whole country as far as it was possible, they returned 
to New York. 



214 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

The American Defeat at Camden. — Though this 
seemed to be a misfortune to Virginia, yet in the end it 
was not without its advantages, as for some time her at- 
tention had been so constantly directed to the main army 
that she had forgotten the defence of her own territory ; 
now, however, she saw the imj^olicy of this inaction, and 
the Legislature immediatel}^ authorized the governor to 
call twenty thousand militia into the field, if necessary. 
Nor were they too early in taking these more active meas- 
ures. General Gates, finding that Lord Cornwallis, the 
British commander, was already passing through North 
Carolina on his way to Virginia, determined, if possible, 
to intercej:>t him. They met at Camden, North Carolina, 
and the Americans under Gates were totally defeated. 
Never did iVmerican soldiers act more disgracefully than 
in this battle ; and I am sony to relate that the Virginia 
militia were among those who ingloriously fled from the 
field. The brave Colonel Stephens, who commanded them, 
was almost maddened b}^ their conduct ; but in vain he en- 
treated, in vain he even exerted all his personal strength 
to turn their bayonets again towards the enemy; they 
were panic-stricken, and even bore him away in their 
flight. It is said that this defeat was caused by a mistake 
of General Gates, who had, before this, been a most suc- 
cessful general ; and this brings me to a very interesting 
incident. 

The Saratoga Prisoners. — Some time prior to these 
events, while General Gates was in command of a portion 
of the army in the North, he met the British general Bur- 
goyne at Saratoga, and forced him to surrender with his 
w^hole army, consisting of about six thousand men. It is 
not a part of the history of Virginia to give a full account 
of this battle, which filled all America with joy; but there 
is a portion of the story with which we have to do. The 
prisoners were at first marched to Boston. From this 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 215 

place they would have been sent to England on their 
parole, but in the mean time some dissatisfaction arose 
between the two governments, and it was deemed neces- 
sary to keep the prisoners, who were known hereafter as 
the Convention troops; but what to do with them was a 
serious question. 

Their Removal to Charlottesville. — To subsist six 
thousand men, prisoners, in the city of Boston, was scarcely 
possible; they must select some place both secure and com- 
fortable for them. After some time, the neighborhood of 
Charlottesville, Virginia, was chosen. On the top of a 
ridge, five miles from the town, barracks were built for 
their accommodation, which cost about twenty thousand 
dollars; and to these, as soon as possible, the prisoners 
were transferred, under proper escorts. 

When they first arrived, considerable fear was felt 
that so large an increase of population could not be sus- 
tained ; but such apprehensions were soon removed. The 
country was very productive, and the planters were glad 
enough to have purchasers for their crops. Soon every- 
thing assumed an air of comfort. The ground around the 
barracks was laid oif in several hundred gardens, which 
the soldiers amused themselves by enclosing and culti- 
vating. One general, a German, is said to have spent two 
hundred pounds in garden seeds for the use of his own 
troops. The officers rented houses in the neighborhood, 
and in many instances their families joined them. They 
purchased horses, cows, and sheep, and spent their time in 
farming, and Governor Jefferson himself acted the hos- 
pitable host in devising amusements to make their cap- 
tivity as pleasant as possible. His own residence was at 
Monticello, and here the officers would visit him ; and he 
placed his fine library at the disposal of those who were 
fond of literature. Others who had a taste for music and 
painting found in him a cultivated companion. Thus Mr- 



216 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



Jeiferson gained over the hearts of these enemies of his 
country a bloodless victory; and among his letters have 
been found many from these officers, after their return 
home, expressing in warm terms their admiration for him. 




MONTICELLO. 



Years after, while passing through Germany, Mr. Jefferson 
was recognized by one of the soldiers who had been among 
these prisoners. The news spread, and he was soon sur- 
rounded by officers, who spoke of Virginia with feeling. 

But captivity, even under the most favorable circum- 
stances, is not desirable ; and notwithstanding the com- 
forts which surrounded the prisoners, desertions became 
so frequent that, after they had been two years in Albe- 
marle, it was thought necessary" to remove them, so part 
were taken to Fort Frederick, Maryland, and the rest to 
Winchester, and here we will leave them. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. The events of what year? are included in this chapter? 

2. What condition had the colonies of America reached? 

3. What insane idea was sut^t^ested in Virginia? 

4. Who was to be chosen dictator? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 217 

5. Give on account of the strife of opinion. 

6. Where whs Patrick Henry during the excitement? 

7. What distinguished visitors passed through Virginia? 

8. Give a brief review of the history of Virginia for the next three years. 

9. Who was elected the next governor of Virginia? 

10. What course was the British victories assucMng? 

11. Tell the story of the fight near Portsmouth. 

12. How did the British behave after this victory? 

13. What effect did these excesses of the enemy have upon the Virginians? 

14. What measures did the Legislature take? 

15. Give an account of the battle of Camden. 

16. Who were the Convention troops? 

17. To what portion of Virginia were they transferred, and why? 

18. What preparations were made for their reception? 

19. IIow did the prisoners spend their time? 

20. How did Mr. Jefferson behave to them? 

21. What happened when Mr. Jefferson was afterwards travelling through 

Germany ? 

22. What became of the Convention troops? 



CHAPTEE XXYI. 

1781. — Continued. 

revolutionary war transferred to virginia — richmond 

ABANDONED — THE TRAITOR ARNOLD — BARON STEUBEN AND 
GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE — DEATH OF DE KALB— CORNWALLIS 
MARCHES TOWARDS PETERSBURG— COLONEL TARLETON'S RAID. 

Virginia becomes the Seat of War.— Wc have now 
reached that point in the history of Virginia when the 
Wav of the Eevohition was in a great degree transferred 
to her soil. The beginning of this year was signah'zed 
by the princely donation which' the Legislature made to 
the Union, which was nothing less than the huge terri- 
tory north-west of the Ohio Eiver, out of which were 
formed the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. 

Richmond threatened. — On the last day of the old 
year information was received that twenty-seven British 

K 19 



218 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

ships had entered Chesapeake Bay, and were coming up 
towards the mouth of James Eiver. It is much to be 
•regretted that at this time there was no officer in Vir- 
ginia to direct her military affairs ; had there been, Eich- 
rcond, the capital of Virginia, would have been rendered 
impregnable against assault. But General Xelson, who 
was in command of the Virginia forces, was striving to 
organize militia in the counties near the coast, and there 
was no one else who was efficient for the purpose. 

The means of defence in Richmond, had there been 
any one to command, would have been amply sufficient. 
At the founder}^, about six miles from the city, there 
were five tons of gunpowder and other military stores, 
and in the city there were five brass cannon and plenty 
of muskets; and the natural situation of the city is so 
strong, that a few resolute men, under an efficient leader who 
knew how to make use of the resources at command, could 
easily have defended the city. But unfortunately these 
were wanting, and Mr. Jefferson took another view of 
the situation and determined upon abandoning Eichmond 
to the enemy. He ordered the five brass cannon to be 
thrown into the river, and set the teamsters and negroes 
to work loading arms and ammunition, which were driven 
off to Westham, seven miles from the city. Why it should 
have been thought a safer place than Eichmond it is hard 
to understand, as nothing was easier for the enemy, if they 
reached the city, than to go to Westham. 

The Traitor Arnold. — On the 4th of January news was 
received that the British had arrived at Westover. They 
were under the command of the wretched traitor Arnold, 
who had once been an officer high in rank in the American 
army, but who accepted a bribe of ten thousand guineas and 
the rank and pay of brigadier-general in the British army 
to betray his country and Washington into the hands of 
their enemy. His plot failed, but he received his reward. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 219 

This was the man who now approached the city at the 
head of nine hundred British soldiers. Nothing could 
exceed the terror and dismay all through the country 
when this was known. Families left their houses to the 
mercy of the enemy, and fled to some place of safety, out 
of reach of the traitor, the mere mention of whom filled 
them with terror. The whole country was thus left open 
to a ruthless enemy, and Arnold landed his forces at West- 
over and marched without opposition to Richmond. On 
the evening of the 4th of January, 1781, the governor 
left Eichmond, and his example was followed by most of 
the inhabitants, and at one o'clock the next day the in- 
famous Arnold entered it. 

Richmond at this time contained about three hundred 
houses, and w^as rapidly extending in size and importance. 
Arnold at once despatched Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe to 
Westham, who destroyed the foundery and military stores 
at that place. Two days were spent by the army in Rich- 
mond, in pillaging and destroying public and private prop- 
erty; the buildings were burnt, the warehouses broken open 
and emptied of all that they contained. Among other of 
their contents were a quantity of casks containing spirits; 
these were emptied into the streets, and the liquor ran 
down the gutters like water, and it is related that the 
cows and hogs drinking of it were seen staggering about 
the streets. What do you think of that as an argument 
against intemperance? 

Arnold pursued. — The enemy found the five brass 
pieces which had been thrown into the river, which they, 
of course, rendered useless. After having in a few hours 
done all the injury possible, Arnold and his men leisurely 
left the city, reached their fleet, and embarked without 
having met with any opposition. This was a severe 
humiliation to the capital of the proud commonwealth, 
and one which was never forgotten. From this time 



220 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

great exertions were made to place the State in a pos- 
ture of defence. Arnold did not escape, however, en- 
tirely unmolested; some of the vessels ventured up the 
Appomattox River, and were fiercely attacked by Gen- 
eral Small wood with three hundred militia, armed only 
with muskets, whereupon they returned precipitately to 
City Point. General Smallwood pursued them to this 
place, and having obtained two small cani\on, ojDened 
upon the ships and drove them down the river. 

Clarke's Ambush. — There was in th^ American army 
a brigadier-general named Baron Steuben, who understood 
well the art of war. He had undertaken to drill the militia. 
With a party of these, he marched rapidly down James 
Eiver, hoping to meet some of Arnold's troops, but he 
was disappointed, as Arnold was too quick for him. Now 
there was with Baron Steuben's command an heroic officer, 
George Rogers Clarke, who was called the "Conqueror of 
Illinois," as he had by almost incredible bravery and per- 
severance rescued the whole of that country from the 
French. He now stepped forward and entreated to be 
placed in command of two hundred and forty men, with 
whom lie hoped to be able to strike a blow against the 
departing forces. His request was granted. Placing his 
men in ambush where Arnold and his troops were landing 
in the night, he gave them a close volley, which killed 
seventeen and wounded thirteen men. They were thrown 
into confusion, but soon recovered and returned the fire. 
Clarke's force was too small to make any further demon- 
strations, so Arnold marched on slowly towards Chesa- 
peake Bay, destroying everything in his way except the 
tobacco, which he carried off" with him. He was super- 
seded in command by General Phillips, who made another 
expedition up the James and Appomattox Rivers, but not 
without opposition. 

The Virginia forces, however, were not yet sufficiently 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



221 



organized to make a successful resistance. Baron Steuben 
with his militia contested the way most gallantly, but they 
were obliged to retreat before the enemy, who took i^os- 




COLONEL CLARKE ATTACKING ARNOLD. 

session of Petersburg, and burned 
the tobacco and some small ves- 
sels lying at the wharves. General 
Phillips despatched Arnold to Ches- 
terfield Court-House, where he de- 
stroyed the barracks and burned a 

quantity of flour; he then rejoined Phillips, and they 
marched together to Manchester, which is on the opposite 
Bide of the^river from Eichmond, intending to pay that 

19* 



222 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



city another visit. But they found this rather more difficult 
than they expected. 

La Fayette. — You remember I told you, some time 
back, of two gallant noblemen who marched through 
Virginia to join the forces in the North. One of them, 
De Kalb, nearly one year before this time, had laid down 
his life on the fatal field of Camden ; the name of the 
other, La Fayette, is from this j^eriod so closely connected 
with the history of the Eevolution in Virginia that you will 
become well acquainted with him. 

There is no name, 
except that of Wash- 
ington, which is dearer 
to the heart of Ameri- 
cans than that of Mar- 
quis de La Fayette. It 
is hard to find terms 
of praise or admira- 
tion too strong for him. 
Born of the best blood 
of France, he early im- 
bibed a love of those 
principles of liberty 
which actuated Amer- 
ica in her struggles 
with England. His en- 
thusiasm in her cause 
was so great that he 
would have joined her in the beginning of the war but for the 
opposition of his friends; he yielded to their opposition, until 
those dark days when he heard of AVashirigton and his brave 
troops being driven from State to State before the victorious 
arms of Great Britain ; then this gallant hero determined no 
longer to allow himself to be controlled bj^ others, but to 
link his fate, for good or ill, to that of struggling America. 




LA FAYETTE. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 223 

The Defence of Virginia. — I have told you of the 
enthusiasm with which he and his companion had been re- 
ceived in Virginia, and this reception seems to have made 
a lasting impression on the young hero ; for although he 
fought willingly by the side of Washington, he sought 
every opportunity to obtain a command in Virginia; and 
at this most important juncture, Washington, who had the 
greatest confidence in him, placed in his charge the defence 
of Virginia, towards which the eyes of both armies were 
now turning as the future theatre of war. 

Richmond saved, — La Fayette arrived in Eichmond on 
the 29th of April. Two days afterwards Phillips and Ar- 
nold made their appearance at Manchester ; but hearing that 
La Fayette was in command of the city, they abandoned all 
thought of attacking it, and marched down the river, de- 
stroying tobacco, mills, and shipping on the way. Ee-em- 
barking at a point called Bermuda Hundred, they pro- 
ceeded down the river towards Chesapeake Bay ; but they 
were not to leave Virginia so soon as they expected. While 
they were still sailing down the James, General Phillips 
received despatches from Lord Cornwallis, the British gen- 
eral who had defeated General Gates at Camden, telling 
him that he was marching with his whole force as rapidly 
as he could to form a junction with him at Petersburg. 
Phillips therefore turned back again, and on the 9th of 
May re-entered Petersburg. 

Arnold again in Command. — It was not designed by 
Providence, however, that General Phillips should any 
longer share either the triumphs or the defeats of the 
British army, as he died at Petersburg four days after 
entering it, and Arnold again assumed command. So 
great was the hatred of Virginians towards this man, 
that the governor issued a proclamation offering a re- 
ward of five thousand guineas to any one who should 
capture him; but the traitor, knowing his danger, never 



224 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

trusted himself out of his quarters without a large body- 
guard. 

Cornwallis in Virginia. — On the 25th of April, Corn- 
wallis inarched towards Halifax, sending before him the 
dashing cavalry officer Colonel Tarleton, with one hundred 
and eighty dragoons, to scour the country in front of him. 
They met with no opposition, and on the 20th of May, 
Cornwallis united the two armies at Petersburg. A few 
days afterwards he crossed the James Eiver at Westover 
and proceeded towards Eichmond ; but Arnold, who had 
no idea of trusting his precious person within reach of the 
Governor of Virginia, applied for permission to return to 
New York. Cornwallis, glad to be relieved from the com- 
pany of a man whom he despised, promptly complied with 
his request. 

Richmond evacuated. — Exulting in the superiority of 
his numbers over those of La Fayette, flushed with hopes 
of a brilliant campaign, and confident of his triumph over 
the youthful officer who was opposed to him, Cornwallis 
wrote to England, " The boy cannot escape me ;" but La 
Fayette, though young, brave, and impetuous, had also the 
prudence which was requisite for his position. Although 
he had only about three thousand men to oppose the im- 
mense force of Cornwallis, and he felt humiliated at being 
obliged to leave the capital of the State, his judgment 
nevertheless prompted him to act for the best interests of 
the people whose cause he had espoused. Accordingly he 
evacuated Eichmond, retreating in such a manner as to 
protect the military stores in his rear, until he was rein- 
forced by General Wayne, who, with eight hundred men 
of the Pennsylvania line, was rapidly approaching from 
the North. Crossing the Chickahominy, he retired to- 
wards Fredericksburg, and in Culpcper County was joined 
by General AVayne. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 225 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. In what year did these events take place? 

2. How was this year signalized? 

3. What happened on the last day of the old year? 

4. Under what disadvantages did Virginia labor? 

5. \yhat means of defence had Richmond ? 

6. What course was determined upon and adopted? 

7. Who was in command of the British, and what was his story? 

8. How was the news of Arnold's approach received ? 

9. Give an account of the evacuation of Richmond. 
iO. Give an account of Arnold's occupation of the city. 
11 What was its effect upon the people of Virginia? 
13. Did Arnold escape unmolested? 

13. Who was Baron Steuben ? 

14. W^hat was Colonel Clarke's history? 

15. Tell of his attack on Arnold. 

16. What did Arnold do afterwards ? 

17. Give an account of the expedition of General Phillips. 

18. Of Arnold's expedition to Chesterfield Court-llouse. 

19. What was Baron de Kalb's fate? 

20. Who was La Fayette? 

21. What was his course towards America? 

22. What command was now conferred upon him ? 

23. What happened after his arrival in Richmond? 

24. Give an account of the course of Phillips and Arnold- 

25. How did Virginia show her abhorrence of Arnold? 

26. What British general was now marching into Virginia; 

27. What became of Arnold ? 

28. How did Cornwallis regard the situation ? 

29. What course did La Fayette take? 



226 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

CHAPTEK XXYII. 
1781. — Continued. 

LEGISLATURE AT CHARLOTTESVILLE ESCAPE FROM TARLETON— 
MONTICELLO— OUTRAGES OF THE BRITISH ARMY-CORXWALLIS 
RETREATS TO CHESAPEAKE BAY— HE FORTIFIES YORKTOWN— 
SIEGiL OF Y'ORKTOWN— SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS— VIRGINIA 
HEROES. 

Lord Cornwallis, finding his young enemy too wary 
to be entrajDped, stopped the pursuit, and encamping on 
the North Anna Elver, in Hanover County, rested until he 
could take a full view of the situation. A large part of 
the State of Virginia lay open before him. The Legisla- 
ture had withdrawn from Richmond to Charlottesville, and 
Mr. Jefferson, whose term of service as Governor of Vir- 
ginia had just expired, was at Monticello, about three miles 
from the village. At a place called Point-of-Fork, now 
Columbia, at the junction of the Eivanna and James 
Elvers, the Virginians had accumulated a quantity of 
stores, leaving Baron Steuben with only six hundred raw 
militia to guard them. 

A Cavalry Raid. — Cornwallis thought that if he could 
capture Mr. Jefferson and the Legislature at Charlottes- 
ville, and destroy the military stores at Point-of-Fork be- 
fore La Fayette could interfere, he would by this double 
blow convince the Virginians of his power, and disgust 
them with a government which was too weak to protect 
them. Accordingly, he divided his cavalry into two par- 
ties, one of which he placed under the command <^f Colonel 
Simcoe, an officer of great activity and bravery, and the 
other under Colonel Tarleton. The latter with two hun- 
dred men was to proceed to Charlottesville, and after ac- 
complishing his object there, was to join Simcoe and aid 
him in destroying the stores. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 227 

Simcoe's Stratagem.— The two forces started nearly 
at the same time. When Simcoe reached the Point-of- 
Fork, he found that Baron Steuben had received notice of 
his approach, and had removed all the stores across the 
river; seeing this, he had recourse to a stratagem which 
proved successful. He thought that if he could make 
Steuben believe that Cornwallis's whole force was with 
him, he would become frightened and abandon his stores. 
As night approached, he set his men to work to cut down 
timber and build camp-fires over a large extent of country. 
When it grew dark, Steuben, seeing the wide extent of 
the encampment, hastily packed up the lighter baggage 
and went otf, leaving behind him all the heavy ha^^a^e 
Which Simcoe destroyed, and rejoined Cornwallis the next 
morning. 

The Legislature warned.— Tarleton was not so suc- 
cessful. He dashed off through the county of Louisa to- 
wards Charlottesville, and had he gone straight forward 
would no doubt have accomplished his object; but he 
stopped to burn twelve wagons containing clothing for the 
Southern army, and then visited the house of Dr. Walker, 
where he captured a number of gentlemen of the county! 
This delay caused the failure of his main object, for one 
of the gentlemen, guessing Tarleton's object, mounted his 
horse, and taking a short cut across the country, did not 
draw a rein until he reached Charlottesville. Eushing into 
the midst of the legislative members, he announced that 
Tarleton was at his heels coming to capture them. They 
hastily adjourned to meet in Staunton on the 7th of June, 
and then scattered like a covey of partridges. 

Jefferson's escape.— A few hours afterwards Tarleton 
knowing nothing of the flight, came along at a sweeping 
pace, fully expecting to capture his prey, and great was 
his disappointment when he found the birds had flown 
Before he reached Charlottesville he had detached a party 



228 



Bli^TOEy OF VIRGINIA. 




THE ANNOU.NCKMKNT OF TABLETONS APPROACH. 

under the command of Captain McLeod, with orders to 
capture Mr. Jefferson. Monticello,* the residence of Mr. 
Jefferson, was built upon the top of a high mountain, 



* Monticello, the Italian for little mountain. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 229 

which could only be approached by a road which wc^nd 
around it. Mr. Jefferson, not dreaming of danger, was 
entertaining some friends, when a servant rushed in and 
told him that the British were coming. No time was 
to be lost; in a few moments the carriage was at the 
door, and Mrs. Jefferson and her three children were 
put into it and sent off by a road opposite to that by 
which the enemy were approaching. She took refuge at 
a friend's house about six miles distant ; and Mr. Jeffer- 
son, mounting his horse, plunged into the recesses of the 
mountain, and so made his escape. It is due to Cap- 
tain McLeod to say that he did not allow anything to be 
disturbed at Monticello, and Mr. Jefferson found all of 
his booi<s, papers, and other property just as he had left 
them. There is still shown at Monticello a subterranean 
apartment, into which two negro servants of Mr. Jefferson 
descended by a trap-door, bearing with them the family 
silver, over which they kept faithful guard while Tarleton 
was in the house. 

An Amusing Incident.— Tarleton was a great boaster, 
and it was an intense mortification to him to be obliged to 
return to Cornwallis with his few gentlemen prisoners, for 
whose capture he had sacrificed the main object of the 
expedition. He allowed his men to depredate upon the 
country, and incidents of his progress are still preserved 
among the descendants of those who suffered from the 
license of his soldiery. At one house everything, in the 
way of poultry, was taken off except one old drake, and 
the family display a picture in which the angry house- 
wife is sending this sole denizen of her poultry-yard after 
Tarleton as a present from her, as she had no use for it. 

Depredations of Cornwallis.— Meanwhile, Cornwal- 
lis, advancing from the North Anna Eiver, took possession 
of one of Mr. Jefferson's farms, called Elk Hill, slaughtered 
and drove off the cattle, appropriated the horses which 

20 



230 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

were tit for use, and with wanton cruelty cut the throats 
of all that were too young for service. Thirty thousand 
slaves, also, are supposed to have been carried off from 
the country, of whom tweaity-seven thousand died of 
small-pox and other diseases in the course of six months. 
Altogether, property amounting to six millions of pounds 
sterling was either tal<en away or destroyed. 

La Fayette's Vigilance. — But Cornwallis's reign of 
terror was nearly over. A fearful retribution awaited him. 
He had received information of a quantity of military prop- 
erty which was stored at Albemarle Old Court-House (^now 
Scottsville). These he determined to destroy; but he was 
no longer to mark his course through Virginia with fire 
and sword without meeting an arm of defence raised 
against him, for the brave La Fajette was ready for 
him ; he had been watching with an eagle eye his everj; 
movement, and now the time for action had arrived. 
Reinforced and in command of an ample body of troops, 
he moved cautiousl}^ from Culpeper to Boswell's Tavern, 
near the Albemarle line. Corn wallis was between him and 
Albemarle Old Court-House, where the stores were ; there 
was but one way in which he could intercept him. and this 
La Fa^^'ette took. He set all of his men to work to open a 
road across the country, and the next morning Cornwallis 
saw, with astonishment and rage, the Americans encamped 
in an impregnable position, just between him and Albemarle 
Old Court-House. At the same time he received a despatch 
from SirHenr}' Clinton, commander-in-chief of the British 
forces in America, ordering him to proceed at once to the sea- 
coast and to send him all the men he could spare, as there 
was reason to believe that New York would be the next 
point of attack. 

A Perilous Error. — Cornwallis without delay set his 
face towards the sea, and now he was the pursued and La 
Fayette the pursuer. Cornwallis moved slowlj', and La 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 231 

Fayette watched keenly every step he took. Once, and 
only once, was La Fayette off his guard ; but happily his 
want of vigilance was not attended with serious conse- 
quences. On the 4th day of July, Cornwallis was prepar- 
ing to transport his entire armj^ across James Eiver. having 
selected Jamestown Island as the proper point. Inexperi- 
enced spies had informed La Fayette that the British army 
had crossed, leaving the rear-guard on the north side of the 
river. This he determined to attack, and did not discover 
his mistake until he had driven in the pickets and found 
himself in the midst of the full strength of the British 
army. Two field-pieces were captured, and had it not 
been for the darkness of the night, which enabled La 
Fayette to accomplish a retreat, the Americans must 
have been utterly ruined ; as it was, there was little real 
damage done, and Cornwallis withdrew his forces across 
the river and continued his course towards Chesapeake 
Bay, followed by La Fayette. He soon received de- 
spatches from vSir Heniy Clinton, informing him that his 
apprehensions about an attack on New York were re- 
lieved, and ordering him to retain his whole force in Vir- 
ginia, selecting Yorktown as his base of operations. Of 
this place he took possession, and threw up intrenchments. 
^A^ashington joins La Fayette.— La Fayette saw at 
a glance the advantages of the situation, and lost no time 
in informing Washington of his view of the matter, in 
which the commanding officer concurred, and turned his 
face without delay towards Virginia, and with his com- 
bined French and American troops w^as fiir on his south- 
ward march before the British general had any idea of 
the contemplated movement. Before Washington joined 
La Fayette, he learned with joy that Count de Grasse 
had entered Chesapeake Bay with a fleet of tw^enty-five 
ships, on board of which were three thousand French 
troops. It was near the last of September when Wash- 



232 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

mgton joined La Fayette and immediately mounted can- 
non around Yorktown, which was soon, with the aid of 
the ships of De Grasse, completely invested, and the proud 
Cornwallis saw himself caught in a trap of his own setting, 
while the Americans determined that he and his army 
should never leave Yorktown except as prisoners of war. 

Cornwallis entrapped. — General Washington knew 
that as soon as Sir Henry Clinton heard of the situation 
of Cornwallis he would make every effort to relieve him; 
his aim therefore was to prepare for a defence from an out- 
side attack, as well as to secure the army in Yorktown. 
Cornwallis on his part was not idle, but strove in every 
way to escape from his precarious situation ; but day by 
day his hoj^es grew fainter, until at length they rested alone 
upon the anticipated help from Sir Henry Clinton. After 
a while food became scarce, and still the Americans btiilt 
their intrenchments closer and closer to the fated city. 
General Nelson, who was now Governor of Virginia, had 
his home in Yorktown, — he was the same gentleman to 
whom the captain of the " Fowey" had addressed his cruel 
epistle some years before. Observing, one day, that in 
compliment to him the gunners would not aim at his house 
while firing into the town, though it was known to be the 
head-quarters of the British officers, he remonstrated, and 
insisted that the guns shotild open fire in that direction. 
His wish was complied with ; the first shot killed two 
officers, and the entire building was soon demolished. 

Escape prevented. — Conscious of his desperate situ- 
ation, and beginning to despair of help from without, 
Cornwallis made an attempt to cut his way through the 
American lines, but he was driven back. He then deter- 
mined to abandon his sick and wounded and his materials 
of war, and to escape with his men across the river. The 
boats were in readiness, and some of the troops had actu- 
ally embarked ; but heaven armed against them. A storm 



HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 



233 



of wind and rain arose which drove the boats back on the 
shore, and the attempt was abandoned. 




STJRKENDER OF LORD CORNWALLIS. 

The Surrender of Cornwallis.— The hopes of Lord 
Cornwallis were now at an end, and unwilling to sacrifice 
any more of the troops who had so bravely stood the hor- 

.20* 



234 HISTORF OF VIRGINIA. 

rors of the siege, on the morning of the 17th of October he 
despatched a flag of truce with a letter to tieneral Wash- 
ington, proposing a cessation of hostilities for twenty-four 
hours, in order that the terms of surrender might be 
settled. Washington, fearing that reinforcements might 
arrive from Xew York and change the aspect of aifairs, 
declined a longer delay than two hours. With this Corn- 
wallis was forced to be satisfied ; but two days elapsed 
before all of the preliminaries were settled, and at twelve 
o'clock on the 19th the surrender was made. The allied 
armies were drawn up in two lines more than a mile in 
length, the French on one side of the road and the Ameri- 
cans on the other. The Count de Eochambeau and his 
staif, handsomely mounted, occupied a position in front of 
the French, and Washington on a noble steed, with his 
staff, was beside the Americans. The French j^resented 
a brilliant appearance in their complete uniforms, and 
marched to the field with a -band of music in full play. 
The Americans, in spite of their shabby dress, which bore 
the marks of hard service and great privations, wore a 
proud, soldierly air which was better than mere outside 
adornment, and made their countrymen who looked on 
very proud of them. 

The British Garrison. — About two o'clock the British 
garrison sallied forth from Yorkttfwn and passed through 
the two lines of their conquerors. They marched with 
slow, sad steps, their arms shouldered, their flags furled, 
and their drums beating a solemn march. They were led 
by General O'Hara, who at once inarched up to Washing- 
ton and apologized for the non-appearance of Lord Corn- 
wall is on account of sickness. He then led his men for- 
w^ard to the field where they were to ground their arms. 
Their aspect as they followed their leader was sullen, 
which was very natural, the circumstances considered. 

Their Humiliation , — The British had indulged in a 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 235 

very bad habit ; this was to parade a contempt for their 
Ame-rican foe which probably tbey did not altogether feel, 
but which doubtless increased their mortification when they 
came to this final humiliation. Many of the men threw 
their muskets violently on the pile, as if unable to conceal 
their rage ; and Colonel Abercrombie, one of the officers, 
as he stood by. compelled to witness the sight, bit the hilt 
of his sword, and turned away his head as if completely 
overcome. 

The importance of this surrender was indeed ines- 
timable. It was not only that it enriched America by 
the capture of men, guns, stores, ammunition, and ships, 
but it produced the happiest moral effect. Those who 
were disposed, through discouragement, to abandon the 
cause, soon became its most earnest supporters; enthu- 
siasm prevailed everywhere, and Great Britain, conscious 
that her strength was being wasted on a people determined 
to be free, abandoned the contest. Peace was not formally 
declared for nearly two years after, but the independence 
of the republic was recognized, and the new country in- 
vited CO trade, on equal terms, with the power which had 
ruled over her. 

Virginia's Roll of Honor. — Thus ended the War of 
the Eevolution, and Virginia ma}^ well be proud of her 
part in the struggle. On her soil independence first be- 
gan, and on her soil the last great battle was fought. Her 
sons were always foremost in the field and the council- 
chamber. The voice of Patrick Henry was the first 
which sounded the cry of liberty; George Mason penned 
the Declaration of Eights, and Thomas Jefferson the Dec 
laration of Independence ; and George \Yashington, pre- 
eminent in all those qualities which constitute a man and 
a soldier, kept alive the courage of his countrymen in the 
darkest hour and led the American army to final triumph 
Nor does the list of Yirginia's heroes end here. There are 



236 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

William Washington,* Lee,f Mercer, Morgan, Stephen, and 
Clarke among her soldiers, and Mason, Page, Nelson, -Lee, 
Eandolph, Bland, Pendleton, and Wythe among her states- 
men, whose names should be cherished so long as Virginia 
has an existence. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What is the date of these events ? 

2. What was the next step of Lord Cornwallis ? 

3. Where were the Legislature and Mr. Jefferson? 

4. Where was Baron Steuben ? 

5. What did Cornwallis propose to do? 

6. What part of the plan was given to Simcoe, and how did he accomplish 

his object? 

7. Whiit work was assigned to Tarleton ? 
8^ What caused the failure of his object ? 

9. Relate the story of his raid upon Charlottesville. 

10. How did the Legislature escape? 

11. The command of what enterprise did McLeod undertake? 

12. Was he successful ? 

13. How did Tarleton behave under disappointment? 

14. Give an account of Cornwall is's reign of terror. 

15. Who was waiting to oppose him? 

16. What piece of military strategy did La Fayette accomplish? 

17. What happened to change Cornwallis's plans ? 

18. What course did he pursue? 

19. Describe the retreat of his army to Yorktown. 

20. What did Washington do when he heard the news? 

21. What was the situation of the two armies? 

22. What was Cornwallis's only hope? 

23. What did General Nelson do? 

24. Tell of Cornwallis's attempt to escape. 

25. What proposals did Cornwallis make, and how were they received? 

26. Describe the manner in which the allied armies were drawn up at tha 

time of surrender. 

27. Give an account of the surrender. 

28. What was the importance of this surrender? 

29. What part had Virginia taken in the Revolution? 

30. Give the names of some of her Revolutionary soldiers and statesmen. 

* Lieutenant-Colonel William Washington, a cavalry leader, 
f " Light-Horse Harry," father of General Robert E. Lee. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 237 



CHAPTEE XXYIII. 
1781-1800. 



* CRAZY RUMSEY"— WASHINGTON AT MOUNT VERNON-CONVENTION 
AT PHILADELPHIA-VIRGINIA CONVENTION MEETS TO DISCUSS 
THE NEW CONSTITUTION— VIRGINIA JOINS THE FEDERAL UNION- 
WASHINGTON ELECTED PRESIDENT-KENTUCKY ADMITTED INTO 
THE UNION— FEDERALISTS AND REPUBLICANS-ALIEN AND SE- 
DITION LAWS— " RESOLUTIONS OF '98"— PATRICK HENRY'S LAST 
SPEECH-JOHN RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE-DEATHS OF PATRICK 
HENRY AND WASHINGTON. 

A Virginian Invention. — It is pleasant to turn aside 
for a moment from the turmoil of war and the difficulties 
which beset the ship of state, now being launched upon 
the waters of time, to narrate a simple story of a man 
whose name deserves a higher place than it at present oc- 
cupies in history. There has been a great deal written 
about the invention of the steam-engine; you are all so 
accustomed to see it in common use that but few of you 
realize how wonderful was the genius which first conceived 
the idea of using steam as a locomotive power. There are 
records as far back as the year 1543 of the conception of 
some such idea, but no one had ever been able to put it in 
execution. This is the introduction to my story. 

James Rumsey was a native of Maryland, and had 
his residence at Bath, Morgan County, Virginia, and after- 
wards in Shepherdstown. He was employed by the Poto- 
mac Company to improve the navigation of tne Potomac 
Eiver, and here his attention became directed to different 
modes of propelling vessels, and particularly to utilizing 
steam for this purpose. He was a simple man, but 
one of considerable inventive powers and great earnest- 
ness of purpose. In spite of the ridicule of his ignorant 
neighbors, who dubbed him " Crazy Eumsey," he built a 



238 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

boat on the banks of the Potomac, and succeeded in 
launching it upon the waters of that river, propelling it 
by steam against the current at the rate of four or five 
miles an hour. This seems very slow to us, because we 
travel so much more rapidly now, but it was considered 
wonderful speed by the people of the country, who called 
it the " flying boat." It was about fifty feet long, and the 
whole machinery did not occupy more than six feet square. 
The boiler held about five gallons of water, only a pint of 
which was i-equired at a time, and it used from four to 
six bushels of coal in twelve hours. Rumsey was w^orking 
at his idea nearly four years before he developed it ; and 
there is* a path along the banks of the Potomac, near Shep- 
herdstown, which was called Rumsey's Walk, because here 
the poor fellow^ walked up and down, day after day, medi- 
tating upon his project. 

The Trial Trip. — At length the " flying boat" was ready 
for its trial trip, and among other distinguished persons who 
were on board, upon this its first voyage, was General Wash- 
ington himself, who was convinced of the utility of the idea, 
and gave his certificate to that eff'ect. • 

Death of the Inventor. — Thus encouraged, Eumsey 
resolved to go to England for the purpose of obtaining 
skilful workmen and such machinery for the carrying 
out of his plans as he could not obtain in this country. 
But here the difficulty beset him which so often lies in 
the way of great projects, — want of money; and he was 
obliged to abandon his main scheme and turn his atten- 
tion to something else until he could raise the means to 
resume it ; he had even to sacrifice a large interest in his 
invention in order to escape a London prison ; but still he 
struggled on, and at length completed a boat of about one 
hundred tons' burthen, and named a day for its public ex- 
hibition, and an evening before this appointment to be 
devoted to an exposition of his project, in order to solicit 



HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 239 

help from the public. The evening arrived, and, to poor 
Runisey's astonishment, the hall was filled to overflowing 
with the learning, fashion, and beauty of Liverpool. He 
was perfectly overwhelmed at the sudden prospect which 
presented itself for the fulfilment of his dearest hopes. 
When he arose to begin his lecture, he was so overcome 
that he could not control his feelings. A gentleman near, 
observing his agitation, handed him a glass of water. He 
thanked him incoherently, sank into his chair, and never 
spoke again. He died two days after, leaving his project 
to be completed by others ; and, nearly twenty years after, 
Fulton succeeded in improving upon his idea, and is recog- 
nized as the great master of steam navigation, while poor 
Rumsey fills an unhonored grave, though no history of 
Virginia should noglect to record his name upon its pages. 
Forming a Government. — Now that the sword was 
laid aside, you may think that this new country had 
nothing to do but to grow rich without being subject to 
English taxation, and to enjoy the independence she had 
so hardly won ; but you are greatly mistaken. The j)eo- 
ple had succeeded, it is true, in throwing ofi" an oppres- 
sive yoke, and in this they rejoiced; hut an arduous task 
lay before them: the country had now to take her place 
in the fomily of nations, and to prepare herself to sup- 
port that position with honor. The experience which 
her i-ulers had enjoyed of a monarchical form of govern- 
ment, which 3'ou know is one in which the king is the 
chief ruler, had not satisfied them; and they determined 
to make an experiment which had never yet been quite 
successful in the history of the world, — namely, to have 
a government in which all of the officers were elected 
by the people, and no office held for life ; so thai if the 
chief ruler did not prove a good one, his government 
could not be a lasting evil, for in a short time another 
-election would take place, and another man fill the posi- 



240 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

tion. It was also determined tiiut each State should 
have a government of its own, consisting of a governor, 
judiciary, and legislature, which would render it entirel}" 
independent of the others ; but that there should be a gen- 
eral government, in which all should unite, over which 
should be placed a president and congress, and that mat- 
ters should be so arranged that the one would not inter- 
fere with the other. There w^ere at that time thirteen 
different States : there are now a great many more ; but it 
was agreed that each new State w^hich was formed should 
join the Union subject to the same regulations. In the 
year 1784 Virginia gave to the United States her great 
territories in the North-west, out of which were afterwards 
formed the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and 
a part of Minnesota. For many years, however, it was 
not divided, but known as " the Territory of Indiana. 

Washington retires. — And now the subject w^hich en- 
gaged the attention of all was how these two governments 
should be constituted, so that the one would not interfere 
with the other; and this was an undertaking full of diffi- 
culty. The States had adopted their own forms of govern- 
ment, and they were not prepared to surrender the power 
entirely into the hands of the United States. General 
Washington, when peace was fully established, had taken 
a final leave of the officers and soldiers of the army which 
had so long acknowledged him as their leader, and at a 
meeting of Congress had surrendered his commission as 
oommander-in-chief After this he retired to Mount Ver- 
non and engaged in domestic pursuits, but never for an 
instant did he lose sight of what he considered the best 
interests of the United States, and he keenly shared in the 
anxiety for the adoption of such a constitution as would 
promote this object. 

The Constitutional Convention. — Years passed away 
before the matter was definitely settled. In May, 1787, a 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



!41 



convention met at Philadelphia, when a constitution or code 
of laws was prepared, which was presented to each of the 
different States for their discussion in convention. In Vir- 
ginia this produced the greatest excitement. Nothing was 




MOUNT VERNON. 



talked of but the new Constitution and the election of mem- 
bers to the Convention which met at Eichmond on the 2d 
of June of the following year, 1788. 

Virginia's Action. — Never before or since, in the his- 
tory of the State, was there such an array of talent ana 
patriotism as met on that occasion. Of course Patrick 
Henry was there, and Pendleton and Wythe, Lee and 
L 9 21 



242 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



EandoljDh, Madison and Marshall, and many others, all 
of whom came to the Convention with the love of their 
State as the ruling passion of their hearts, but differing 
widely as to the best means of securing her good. Patrick 
Henry opposed the new Constitution with all the power 
of his great eloquence ; he thought that Virginia ought 
not to give the general government so much power over 
her. Mr. Madison and Mr. Eandolph and others opposed 




GEORGE WASHINGION. 



him. They thought that Virginia did not give away any 
power necessary to the existence of her State government, 
and she would be strengthened and elevated by a federal 
union with her sister States. The result of many stormy 
discussions was the adoption of the Constitution by a ma- 
jority of only ten votes, and by this Virginia became a 
member of the Union of States. 

Heretofore we have closely kept in view our plan of 
presenting Virginia alone to your view, but now, when 
she becomes united with the other States, through the 
Constitution which slie and they had adopted, it becomes 
more difficult to give her a separate position, and for the 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



243 



seventy years which remain for our consideration there 
are but few events which mark her history with any dis- 
tinctness. 

Washington elected President.— The year after the 
adoption of the Constitution, George Washington was 
elected to fill the office of President of the United States. 
He had been a great advocate for the Union, and a member 




MARTHA WASHINGTON. 

of the Convention which met at Philadelphia to frame the 
Constitution, but it was Avith the greatest reluctance that 
he accepted the post of Chief Magistrate of the new^ coun- 
try. He was growing old, and was wearied with the life of 
toil which he had led, and only desired to spend the even- 
ing of his days in the quiet of his home at Mount Yernon ; 
but he could not decline the call from the country of 
which he w^as the father, and so became the first Presi- 



244 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 

dent of the United States, while Patrick Henry was elected 
Governor of Virginia. 

Kentucky admitted. — One of the first acts of the new 
government was the admission of a new State to the Union. 
This was Kentuck}^, a young daughter of whom Virginia 
was justly proud. Twenty years before the period at 
which we have now arrived, the whole of this beautiful 
land had been in possession of the Indians; but, like the 
rest of the country, it fell into possession of the white 
man. It would be very pleasant to me, and interesting 
to you, could I pause to tell you of how Daniel Boone 
entered this wild country, which, from the many terrible 
battles which were fought there, was known as the " dark 
and bloody ground," and how, after a terrible struggle, it 
was rescued from the savages; but we can only tell the 
story in a brief sentence. As years passed away, the fer- 
tility of her soil and the healthfulness of her climate in- 
vited settlers within her boundaries, and she was soon 
known as " the Garden of the West," and each year marked 
her progress in strength and vigor, until she was ready to 
take her place with her sisters as a State of the Union, 
which she did with honor and credit in the year 1792. 

Political Parties. — About this time arose two great 
political parties in the country, which were known by the 
titles of " Federalist" and '' Eepublican." The Federalists 
were those who approved of a strong general government, 
and thought it ought to be powerful enouirh to keep under 
its power all of the State governments. The Eepublicans, 
on the contrary, looked with great jealousy and distrust 
upon the power already granted to the general government 
by the new Constitution, and zealously contended for the 
right of the different States to govern themselves. This 
last party was the strongest in Virginia. 

Measures of State Defence. — In our day, when the 
youngest of you have some idea of the bitterness of feeling 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 245 

which arises from a difference of opinion in politics, we can 
well understand the extent to which party spirit was car- 
ried upon these all-important subjects. The tongue and 
the pen were kept busy ; and if we could have heard the 
speeches and read the opinions expressed on the different 
sides of the question, we would understand how curiously 
honest, patriotic statesmen, with the good of their country 
equally at heart, can differ about the means of attaining 
that good, and hate each other bitterly for the difference 
of opinion. I have said that the Republican party was the 
strongest in Virginia, and for this reason the Legislature 
of the State adopted every means to strengthen the State 
government by increasing her means of defence. Laws 
were passed for arming the militia, and an armory was 
built at Eichmond large enough to store away ten thou- 
sand stand of arms ; two hundred and twelve pieces of 
cannon were mounted around the yard, besides six beauti- 
ful brass siege-pieces and two mortars. These last were 
supposed to have been brought over in a French vessel 
during the siege of Yorktown, and presented, after the fall 
of Cornwallis, to the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Alien and Sedition Laws. — This same year (1798) 
events occurred which made the oj^position between the 
two great political parties of the country more bitter than 
ever. Some laws were passed by the United States styled 
the " Alien and Sedition Laws." The first named gave the 
President the power to send an}^ foreigner out of the 
country whom he regarded as dangerous to the peace of 
the United States; anrl if he remained in the country after 
the order to leave had been issued, he was to be imprisoned 
for a term not exceeding three years. The " Sedition Law" 
empowered the government to seize any one who should 
write, speak, or publish anything false, scandalous, or ma- 
licious against the government, Congress, or President of 
the United States, and fine or imprison them. 

21* 



246 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Their Reception. — \Yhen it became known that these 
two laws had been passed, it roused the greatest excite- 
ment all through the country. The Federalists contended 
that it was all right and necessary that the general gov- 
ernment should thus act ; and the Eepublicans said that it 
placed too much power in the hands of the President and 
Congress, and was sure to lead to tyranny, by bringing 
under punishment many who were only suspected, and 
ought to be tried before condemnation, and besides, it 
restricted the "liberty of the press," by forbidding the 
publication of opinions, whatever they might be. 

In Virginia the feelings of these two parlies were par- 
ticularly bitter, and the discussions in the Legislature were 
stormy enough, and a great deal of talent and eloquence 
were arrayed on both sides. Patrick Henry, although he 
had opposed the adoption of the Constitution, yet after 
Virginia had agreed to bind herself to the Union, thought 
her best interest lay in doing everything to strengthen the 
tie. Mr. Madison drew up some resolutions, which have 
ever since been celebrated as the '• Eesolutions of '98." 
These, full of patriotism both to the United States govern- 
ment and to the State, declare the intention of Virginia to 
maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States 
against all opposition, but at the same time avow her pur- 
pose to oppose anything which went beyond this Consti- 
tution and endangered the liberty of individuals and of the 
States, which were sovereignties independent of the gen- 
eral government, and particularly to guard the liberty of 
the press and of conscience. The Alien and Sedition Laws 
were declared to be aimed against such rights, and there- 
fore were opposed. Even before this action by Virginia, 
Kentucky passed resolutions which were written by Thomas 
Jefferson, and which were even stronger than those which 
were passed by Virginia. But these were the only two States 
that took open ground against the Federal government. 



HISTORY OE VIRGINIA. 247 

Patrick Henry, though a very old and feeble man, 
allowed himself to be brought before the people of Char- 
lotte County as a candidate for the Virginia Senate, in 
order that he might once again raise his voice for what 
he considered the best interests of his beloved State. Be- 
fore his election, a day was appointed for him to make a 
speech to the people of Charlotte Court-House, in order 
that he might tell them what course he intended to pursue 
should they elect him to the Legislature of Virginia. He 
mounted the stand fixed for him, and the tears gathered 
in many eyes as they saw the sad change wrought bj 
years and ill health upon his honored form. But soon his 
eye lighted up, and his voice gave forth such eloquent 
words as none had ever heard from him before. He said 
he had opposed the adoption of the Constitution, and the 
Alien and Sedition Laws were but the fruits he expected ; 
but it was too late for Virginia to set herself against the 
government. Then clasping his hands, and waving his 
body backward and forward, he said, " If we are wrong, 
let us all go wrong together." The crowd was so excited 
that the entire mass of people waved with him, and as 
he fell exhausted into the arms of the crowd, a friend 
exclaimed, " The sun has set in all his glory !" 

John Randolph. — The applause over Patrick Henry's 
speech was still at its height when a young figure, of un- 
gainly and unprepossessing apj^earance, stepped forward 
and took his place upon the stand which the great orator 
had just left. Ever}- one looked in amazement as they 
recognized John Eandolph, who had grown up in the 
county, and now presented himself as a candidate for 
the Congress of the United States. Many laughed at 
the temerity of the daring youth who thus made his ap- 
pearance after Mr. Henry, and one old man said, " Tut I 
tut! it won't do. It's nothing but the beating of an old 
tin pan after hearing a fine church organ." But they 



248 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



soon found that the tin pan sounded notes which claimed 
their attention. Patrick Henry's sun had set, but here 




PATRICK HENRY AND JOHN RANDOLPH AT THE HUSTINGS. 



was another rising, the token of a bright day. John Ean- 
(lolph became the most celebrated orator, after Patrick 
Henry, in the history of the State. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



249 



Both candidates were elected, Mr. Henry to the 

Virginia Legislature and Mr. Eandolph to Congress ; but 
the first did not live to take his seat, as he died on the 6th 
of June, 1799, mourned by all, for the propriety and dig- 
nity of his character, as the great orator, the friend of 
liberty, and the true Christian. 

Death of Washington.— The last year of this century, 
which had been so eventful to America, also saw the fall of 




TOMB OF WASHINGTON. 



the most distinguished of all the sons of Virginia. On the 
14th day of December, at Mount Vernon, died George Wash- 
ington. This event plunged the whole country in mourning. 
Upon hearing the sad news, Congress adjourned, after re- 
solving that all of the members should wear crape during 
the session, and that a committee be appointed to consider 
the best means of honoring the man " first'in war, first in 
peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." * Every 

* The resolution adopted by Congress ran " first in war, first in peace, and 
first in the hearts of his fellow -citizens." Richard Henry Lee in his oration 
changed it to " first in the hearts of his countrymen." 



250 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

State of the Union hastened to take steps to testify its grief 
at this public bereavement. Nor was the recognition of the 
sad event contined to America. When the news reached 
Europe, Bonaparte, First Consul of France, issued an order 
that black crape should be suspended from all of the stand- 
ards and flags in the army of France for ten days, and 
even the English government honored the man who had 
fought against her ; sixty ships lying at Torbay lowered 
their flags to half-mast at the reception of the news ; and 
for a time, throughout America, passion was calmed and 
party spirit extinguished, while all mourned Washington 
as the " Father of his Country." 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. The history of what years is included in this chapter? 

2. For what purpose does our history turn aside from the diflBculties which 

beset Virginia? 

3. What about the invention of the steam-engine? 

4. Who was James Rumsey ? 

5. What first turned his thoughts to making use of steam? 

6. How was his idea looked upon ? 

7. What success did he meet with ? 

8. Tell of the launching and trial trip of the ** flying boat." 

9. Tell of Rumsey's trip to England. 

10. What difficulties did he encounter? 

11. What is the end of his story ? 

12. What was the condition of Virginia? 

13. What duties lay before her? 

14. What kind of government was determined upon? 

15. What was the general government? 

16. What the State government? 

17. What had ^Y-'ishington done when peace was declared? 

18. When and where did the Convention meet, and what did it accomplish? 

19. What was the effect of these events upon Virginia? 

20. When and where did her Convention meet, and what great men were 

there ? 

21. What difference of opinion existed among these patnote ? 

22. What was the result of these discussions ? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 251 

23. How has Virginia heretofore been presented to you, and what change 

now becomes necessary ? 

24. Who was the first President of the United States, and how did he regard 

the honor ? 

25. Who was elected Governor of Virginia? 

26. What of Kentucky ? 

27. When was she admitted as a State ? 

28. Who were the Federalists and the Republicans? 

29. What is said of the political feeling? 

30. What laws were passed in 1798? 

31. What was the Alien Law? 

32. What was the Sedition Law ? 

33. AVhat was their etfect upon the different States ? 

34. How did Virginia receive tht i? 

35. What position did Patrick Henry occupy? 

36. Who drew up the " Resolutions of '98"? 

37. What did they declare? 

38. What had Kentucky done? 

39. For what position did Patrick Henry become a candidate? 

40. Tell of his last appearance before the people. 

41. How did he close his speech, and with what effect? 

42. AVho occupied the stand after Patrick Henry ? 

43. Who was he, and how was he received ? 

44. What reputation did he afterwards gain ? 

45. What success did the two candidates meet with ? 

46. Where and when did Patrick Henry die? 

47. What sad event happened near the close of this same year? 

48. What was the effect upon the whole country ? 

49. How was the event recognized in Europe ? 



CHAPTEE XXIX. 
1800-1813. 

CALLENDER'S "PROSPECT BEFORE US"— INSURRECTION OF SLAVES 
—BURNING OF THE RICHMOND THEATRE— WAR OF 1812. 

Party Spirit. — The mourning for George Washington 
and Patrick Henry, in Virginia, soon received a diversion 
by the revival of party spirit. Tin's had its immediate cause 



252 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

in the enforcement of one of those very laws which she had 
80 opposed, and which, with her own concurrence, was car- 
ried into effect on her very soil. 

One James Thompson Callender, a foreigner, who 
had his home in Virginia, published a pamphlet called 
" The Prospect before Us," in which he took occasion, in 
the most outrageous manner, to load with coarse, profligate 
abuse and false accusations not only Mr. Adams, the Presi- 
dent of the United States, but even the lamented Washing- 
ton. So infamous was this paper that the public indigna- 
tion was aroused. Judge Chase, who had been one of the 
signers of the Declaration of Independence, and was now 
one of the judges of the Supreme Court, read the pam- 
phlet, and declare<l his intention of taking it with him to 
Virginia, — where he was soon to hold a circuit cotirt, — and 
that if a jury of honest men could be found in the com- 
monwealth, he would punish Callender. He did so ; and 
presenting the pamphlet to the grand jury, insisted upon 
the arrest of Callender as a '• seditious libeller." It was 
done ; and very much frightened at " the prospect before" 
him, Callender was brotight before the court. Three cele- 
brated Virginia lawyers undertook his defence. They were 
Mr. Wirt, Mr. Hay, and Mr. Philip Norborne Nicholas. 
Judge Chase, in his anxiety to enforce the law, showed a 
little too much ardor, as he refused to grant the counsel of 
Callender a longer time to summon witnesses, and in the end 
80 offended the three gentlemen that they left the court. 
Callender was condemned ; and so great was the disgust of 
all parties for his pamphlet, that although the proceeding 
was contrary to the ideas entertained by Virginians of the 
liberty of opinion which should be allowed to all, no one 
was sorry that he suffered fine and imprisonment. 

Judge Chase was afterwards brought before the bar of 
Congress for his action in this case and others, and John 
Randolph was very earnest in his efforts to convict him. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 253 

The trial was a long one and full of interest, but the efforts 
failed : he was cleared. 

An attempted Slave Insurrection.— In this same year 
the State of Virginia was startled by the discovery of an in- 
tended insurrection of slaves. You remember, very early in^ 
the history of the colony, that a Dutch vessel brought to the 
young colony a cargo of Africans, who were used as slaves. 
This proved to be the beginning of a train of evils for the 
State. For many years English ships continued the prac- 
tice thus introduced, until the different colonies abounded 
with them. During the Revolutionary War, Virginia made 
a law that no more Africans should be brought into the 
State; but still she was obliged to care for those who 
were already there. Generally speaking, the negroes 
proved a harmless and affectionate race, easily governed, 
and happy in their condition; and history records but two 
attempted insurrections in Virginia during the existence 
of the institution. The first happened, as I have said, 
in the first year of the new century, in the neighborhood 
of Richmond. 

It was headed by a man named Gabriel, and about 
one thousand negroes were concerned in it. So well was 
their secret kept, that not a suspicion of it existed until 
the very night appointed for the execution of the plot 
It was then divulged by a slave named Pharaoh, whose 
heart failed him at the last moment, and making his 
escape, he presented himself before the authorities at 
Richmond and disclosed the whole plot. Steps were 
instantly taken to defeat it ; and it was found that an 
organized plan had been laid to surprise Richmond, exter- 
minate the male inhabitants, and take the women for wives 
for themselves. The conspimtors were convicted and con- 
demned to meet the fate they so justly deserved. 

The Nat Turner Massacre.— Though it does not prop- 
erly belong to this period, as it happened thirty years after, 

22 



254 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

I will tell you, in connection with this incident, of the only 
other insurrection which soils the fair page of the history 
of Virginia. It was headed by a negro named Nat Turner, 
a religious fanatic and a preacher; he also claimed to be a 
prophet, and by the interpretation of some signs obtained 
a great influence among the ignorant, superstitious negroes. 
By this means he succeeded in inducing numbers to join him 
in his plot. On the 21st of August, 1831, accompanied by 
twenty of his followers, he entered the house of his master, 
one Mr. Travis, in Southampton County, during the night, 
and murdered the entire family before they were sufficiently 
awake to offer defence. He next went to the house of a Mr. 
Waller, and left his wife and ten children a bleeding heap 
on the floor. Near by this last-named place there was a 
school of little girls, all of whom were butchered in cold 
blood except one, who made her escape and was found by 
her friends hidden in a hedge. In giving an account of the 
horrors through which she had passed, the little thing said, 
*' but God watched over me." 

Retribution. — For one entire day did these wretches 
revel in blood; but, fortunately, their courage was not 
proof against resistance, and this they encountered at 
the house of Dr. Blount, where that gentleman, his son, 
a youth of fifteen, and three white neighbors wore on the 
lookout for them, and when they came within twenty 
yards of the house, oj^ened fire upon them from the win- 
dows. One of the negroes fell dead, a second was wounded, 
and the rest betook themselves to flight. From this time 
the warfare was at an end. The whites turned out and 
hunted the murderers down through the swamps. The 
first who were captured were killed on the spot, but when 
the first heat of passion had cooled, justice resumed her 
sway, and they were taken to the county town of South- 
ampton and tried for their crimes. It was some weeks 
before Nat Turner was found, but at length he was dis- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 255 

covered under a pile of fence-rails, and being brought to 
trial, met the punishment he deserved. 

A Terrible Event. — I will now tell you of a circum- 
etaace which occurred in the city of Eichmond in the year 
1811, that spread the mantle of sorrow over the whole 
State of Virginia. The prosperity of the State, after the 
Revolutionary War, was steadily progressive ; her wealth 
and jjopulation had greatly increased. Eichmond, you will 
remember, at the time it was chosen as the capital of the 
commonwealth, was but a village ; it had now spread its 
boundaries over the neighboring hills, and was the centre 
of wealth, fashion, and ga^^ety. During the memorable 
winter of this year, the young, the gay, and the beautiful 
had flocked to the city ; brilliant entertainments followed 
each other in rapid succession, and night after nigh.t crowds 
gathered at the theatre, where the best actors in the 
country were performing. 

On the evening of the 26th of December an im- 
mense crowd assembled to witness a favorite play, in which 
the principal character was sustained by a very celebrated 
actor. While every eye was fixed upon the performers, 
and the interest was at its height, sparks of fire were seen 
to fall from the scenery at the back of the stage, and at 
the same moment one of the actors rushed forward and, 
throwing up his hands excitedly, exclaimed, " The house is 
on fire ! the house is on fire !" Instantly the cry of horror 
was repeated through the building in various accents of 
terror and despair, and a scene of confusion followed which 
language is inadequate to describe. The crowd trod upon 
each other in their efforts to reach the doors, which they 
found tightly closed, as the}^ unfortunately opened on the 
inside of the room, and the pressure against them only 
kept them more tightly barred. Behind, the flames gained 
ground, and the suflPocating smoke spread over the doomed 
mass of human beings like a pall. Strong men, frantic 



256 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 

with fear, passed over the heads of the dense crowd in 
their efforts to reach the doors ; the groans of the crushed 
and dying mingled with the labored respiration of those 
who were smothered by the smoke; many threw them- 
selves from the upper windows, exchanging one violent 
death for another. 

Affecting Scenes. — In the midst of the scene, touching 
instances are narrated where love triumphed over the fear 
of death. Parents rushed back into the flames to rescue 
their children, and perished in the attempt ; and children 
refused to be saved at the expense of a parent's life. Hus- 
bands and wives chose death together rather than separa- 
tion. An old lady, still living, tells with the eloquence of 
an eye-witness of her own rescue by one who afterwards 
became her husband. With admirable presence of mind, 
he bore her to an upper window, and fastening his foot in 
some way in the shutter, let her down as far as his arms 
could reach, and dropped her into those of the watching 
crowd below. When her safety was assured, he saved him- 
self by climbing doTvn one of the pillars. Seventy persons 
lost their lives on this eventful night, and this number 
comprised the wealth, the fashion, and the talent of the 
metropolis. The governor of the State was among the 
lost, besides many distinguished and valuable citizens. 
Eichmond was shrouded in mourning; there was scarcely 
a family in which there was not one dead. When the news 
of the calamity reached Washington, it was resolved, in 
both Houses of Congress, that the members should wear 
crape on the left arm for a month. The Monumental 
Church now covers the site of the old theatre, and at the 
door is a monument bearing upon it as an inscription the 
names of many of those who perished in this disaster. 

The War of 1812.— The year following this sad event, 
dissatisfaction arose between the United States and the 
British government, the cause of which belongs so entirely 



HISTORF OF VIRGINIA. 



257 



to the history of the United States that it need not be de- 
tailed here. A war was commenced between the two 
powers which is known as "the War of 1812." The scene 



"i^aTi. 




of the conflict was, for the most part, far removed from Vir- 
ginia, but her borders were not to escape invasion entirely. 
Cockburn*s Outrages.— An infamous admiral of the 
British navy, named Cockburn, in the month of May of 

22*. 



258 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

this year entered Chesapeake Bay and committed the 
most shocking depredations along the coasts of Maryland 
and Virginia. He had under his command a large fleet of 
ships and about twenty-six hundred men. A heavy fight 
took place near Norfolk between this fleet and the Ameri- 
can gunboats. The battle was fought at Craney Island, 
which stands at the entrance of Norfolk harbor, and the 
Americans defended ^.he position so bravely that the enemy 
were forced to abandon their designs on Norfolk.' In rage 
and shame at their unexpected defeat, they turned their 
attention to Hampton, a comparatively unimportant post, 
and which was only defended by a few men under Colonel 
Crutchfield. These kept back the enemy with determined 
bravery for a time, but were at last obliged to retire before 
overwhelming numbers. The British entered Hampton 
and committed every species of outrage. One aged man 
was brutally murdered in the presence of his wite, who 
herself was desperately wounded. The infamous Cock- 
burn refused to protect the defenceless women who re- 
mained in the town from the negroes who followed in his 
train, answering one who applied to him for protection, 
that he " took it for granted that all the ladies had left" 
before his arrival. Happily, their stay was of short dura- 
tion, as the militia gathered in such numbers that Cock- 
burn retired to his ships. The war lasted three years, and 
ended triumphantly for the United States, but this was the 
only occasion upon which Virginia sufl'ered invasion. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. The events of what years are included in this chapter? 

2. What was the next cause of public excitement in Virginia*' 

5. What was Callender's crime? 

4. Who was Judge Chase, and what did he declare ? 

6. What steps were taken against Callender? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 259 

6. What lawyers defended liiiii ? 

7. What difficulty arose between the lawyers and judge? 

8. How did it end ? 

9. Give a short account of the history of slavery in Virginia. 

10. Give an account of the Gabriel insurrection. 

11. Give an account of the Nat Turner insurrection. 

12. What was the condition of the city of Richmond in 1811 ? 

13. Describe the burning of the theatre. 

14. What effect aid this event have through the country ? 

15. What did Congress do? 

16. What happened the next year? 

17. Was the principal scene of conflict in Virginia? 

18. Where was she invaded, and by whom ? 

19. Give an account of the battle of Craney Island. 

20. Give an account of the occupation of Hampton. 

21. How long did this war last, and who was victorious? 



CHAPTEE XXX. 
1818-1859. 

VIRGINIA THE "MOTHER OF PRESIDENTS" -UNIVERSITY OP VIR- 
GINIA-DEATH OF THOMAS JEFFERSON-THE VIRGINIA CONSTI- 
TUTION AND THE MEN WHO MADE IT-TROUBLES BETWEEN THE 
STATES— JOHN BROWN'S RAID. 

Presidents from Virginia. — And now follows a series 
of years undisturbed by the horrors of war, and in this 
peaceful interval Virginia had time to give her attention 
to matters of essential importance to her permanent peace 
and prosperity. Of the first five Presidents of the United 
States, four were from Virginia. General Washington held 
the office eight years and declined re-election. He was fol- 
lowed by John Adams, of Massachusetts, who served one 
term ; next came Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, who served 
eight years ; next Mr. Madison, also eight years ; and then 
Mr. Monroe, also from Virginia, for eight years. 

Jefferson at Home. — At the close of Mr. Jefferson's 
second term of office he retired to his beautiful home at 



260 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 




JEFFERSON. 



Monticello, in Albemarle County, where he devoted the re- 
mainder of his life to literary and agricultural pursuits. 
It is not to be ^supposed that one so alive to the welfare of 

his State as he had ever 
been, should lose sight of 
it even in his retirement 
to private life. He had al- 
ways taken a keen interest 
in the cause of education, 
rightly concluding that in 
promoting the educational 
advancement of her youth, 
Virginia planted the seeds 
for her surest and best 
advancement. For years 
past he had indulged the 
hope of enlarging the col- 
lege at Williamsburg into 
a great university, which would afford the same advan- 
tages as could be furnished by a European education. 
For reasons not necessary to detail, he had been obliged to 
abandon his scheme in its relation to Williamsburg, though 
he still cherished the idea of a great Virginia university. 

His Grand Purpose. — As he cast his eye over the 
beautiful country which lay around his mountain home, 
his imagination pictured a grand institution growing out 
of the bosom of these plains. An idea once conceived 
with him was not easily abandoned, and although yeart 
elapsed before he was able to accomplish his design, he 
at length induced the Legislature to appropriate a sum of 
money for the erection of the necessar}^ buildings. About 
two miles from Charlottesville, in the county of Albemarle, 
there was already an institution incorporated, called Cen- 
tral College. This was purchased by the State of Virginia, 
and Mr. Jefferson had the gratification of seeing the good 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 26l 

work really commenced in earnest under his own superin- 
tendence. Six years passed away before the work was 
sufficiently advanced for the commencement of college 
exercises. It has ever since been a favorite resort for the 
youth of the South. 

Mr. Jefferson did not live to witness the established 
success of the University of Virginia, as his death oc- 
curred in 1826, only one year after it went into operation. 

The Constitution revised. — In 1776 the young State 
of Virginia had formed for its government a constitution, 
which had been, on the whole, satisfactory. But still there 
were changes required, and the patriots of the State never 
ceased talking of such a change in it as would meet the 
wishes of all and secure harmony and good will for the 
future. The country was now quiet and prosperous, and 
there was more time to think of matters of this nature. 
The vote of the people was taken, and members appointed 
to a convention which met in the Capitol at Eichmond, 
October 5, 1829. Very few of the great statesmen, with 
whom we have been acquainted in the past, were there. 
The voice of Patrick Henry and the pen of Mr. Jefferson 
and the sword of George Washington were buried with 
them in their graves, but their patriotic spirit still lived in 
many who had succeeded them. Mr. Madison, Mr. Mon- 
roe, and Mr. Marshall were still alive and present, to tell 
the younger men of the '• spirit of '76" and of '98, and to 
hold up the "Bill of Eights" and the "Eesolutions of '98;" 
and do you remember John Eandolph, whose sun rose just 
as that of Mr. Henry set, lii 1799 ? Well, he was there 
too, and many others, whose names, which you will be 
proud to know as jou grow older, swelled the list of the 
members of tnis Convention ; and after a discussion which 
lasted thrt3e months, the changed and improved Constitu- 
tion was adopted and the Convention adjourned. 

The Slavery Question. — As years went on, the quee- 



262 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

tion of slavery was a constant source of trouble between 
the different States of the Union. The difficulties to which 
it gave rise make up so large a portion of the history of 
the State that it is necessary to review^ the subject before 
we go any further. 

England supports Slavery. — You will recall the fact 
that very early in the history of the State a Dutch vessel 
brought to the young colony a cargo of Africans, who 
were used as slaves. This proved the beginning of a train 
of evil for the whole country, for England took up the 
traffic, and in the face of the remonstrances of Virginia 
insisted upon her receiving and employing the slaves. 
Queen Anne owned one-fourth of the stock of the Royal 
African Company, as it was called, and it is computed that 
under the fostering care of England three hundred thousand 
slaves were brought to America. 

Virginia, to check its growth, imposed a tax on all 
Africans brought into the colony, but the queen, the Parlia- 
ment, and the merchants of England would not agree to 
give up a traffic which was bringing them enormous profits, 
and the repeal of the law was obtained. In 1775, the year 
before her separation froni Great Britain, Virginia made 
an earnest remonstrance against the importation of African 
slaves, and was answered that nothing should be done to 
check a traffic so beneficial to the nation. 

Slaves in all the Colonies. — At the time of the for« 
mation of the Union of States slaver}^ existed in them all, 
with the single exception of Massachusetts, and there it 
had only ceased a short time before. With the exception 
of Massachusetts, the New England States were strong 
advocates for carrj-ing on the trade, because they were 
largely engaged in it, and made a great deal of money by 
bringing slaves into the Southern ports and selling them 
to the planters, who also favored it because the negroes, 
being from a warm climate, could stand the work in the 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 263 

cotton-fields under the Southern sun so much better than 
the whites, and they were glad to buy all that New Eng- 
land would bring. So important did the States of Georgia 
and South Carolina consider this institution that they would 
not agree to join the Union unless there was a law made 
that it should not be interfered with. Thus it w^as that 
the interests of the cotton States and New England were 
the same, and in the discussions in Congress they always 
furnished its strongest advocates for continuing the trade ; 
but Virginia, on the contrary, always raised her voice 
against it, and was the first of the States to forbid it by 
law. Her ablest men — Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Mason, 
Wythe, Lee, Page, Marshall, and others — considered it a 
great curse, and all expected that in a short time Virginia 
would be a free Stale. 

Abolition of the Slave-Trade. — In 1778 Virginia and 
other States, north and south, brought a bill before Con- 
gress for the abolition of the slave-trade through the whole 
country. New England and the cotton States objected for 
reasons already given. A Mr. John Brown, of Eliode 
Island, argued that every country in the civilized world 
had the privilege of bringing slaves from Africa, and there 
seemed no reason why New England should not have the 
same advantages, especially as there was no doubt that the 
condition of the Africans themselves was bettered by the 
change. It was further argued that the loss to New Eng- 
land would be very heavy, as she had so much money in- 
vested in her slave-ships, so it was agreed to defer it for 
twenty years on this account. Thus in 1808 it became a 
law of the land that no slaves were to be brought into the 
country, but the traffic was for j^ears secretly carried on. 
While New England became the most bitter abolition sec- 
tion, the cotton State-^ held on to the institution, because 
it was guaranteed to them under the Constitution, and 
because they considered it to their advantage. 



264 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

The Northern States, cleansed from what they now 
considered a great crime, looked with horror upon their 
Southern sisters who dared to hold their fellow-creatures 
in bondage ; while the Southern people, having a large part 
of their property invested in this way, and deeming the 
negro necessary to the cultivation of their c^^'ops, contended 
for their rights under the Constitution to keep their slaves. 

A Bitter Animosity. — The feeling upon this subject 
grew in bitterness, many individuals at the North regard- 
ing it as a religious duty to purge the Union from this 
great evil, and the South holding to it more obstinately 
from this interference with their legal rights. The ques- 
tion was continually discussed in Congress; abolitionists 
came South and enticed the slaves from their masters ; 
books were written giving false or exaggerated pictures 
of the condition of the slave in the South, representing 
the masters as cruel tyrants. And thus a bitter animos- 
ity grew up between the two sections. Visitors from 
the North were looked upon with suspicion ; books from 
the North were banished from Southern territory ; South- 
ern Legislatures made laws forbidding the master to 
teach his slave to read, because of these dangerous books 
which they would be supplied with. Travellers going 
North dared not take their servants with them, for fear 
of being subjected to trouble and loss. 

Virginia, occupying a middle position between these 
opposing sections, was influenced by contact with both. 
Slavery had been entailed upon her almost against her 
will ; and we have seen how she paused, even in the midst 
of the blood}^ scenes of the Eevolution, to make laws that 
no more slaves should be brought within her boundaries. 
From that time the question of freeing them was con- 
stantly discussed in her Legislature, and a large number 
of her statesmen advocated it. It became a common oc- 
currence for slave-holders, at their death, to leave their 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 265 

slaves free and provided for. John Eandolph of Roan- 
oke did this, and appropriated a large portion of his 
property for their support. Thus the gradual banishment 
of slavery was looked upon as a certainty. Owing to 
this condition of affairs, slavery ceased to be regarded 
in the State as a matter of profit ; the buying and selling 
of slaves was at least rare. Slave-dealers were looked 
upon with disgust. Families of negroes were retained 
in the same household for generations, passing down 
from father to son, until the affectionate connection be- 
tween the Virginia master and his servant, who had 
shared his boyish sports, and now performed the duties 
of a mild servitude, became proverbial. 

The Feeling in Virginia. — We have seen from this 
history, both in her contests with England and under 
other circumstances, that Virginia never willingl}^ con- 
ceded to another what she considered her rights; so it 
happened that when she found that her IS'orthern sisters 
were attempting to force her to emancipate her slaves, 
the spirit of the Old Dominion rose. She remembered 
her Declaration of Eights, she recalled her State sov- 
ereignty, and tightening her grasp upon her property 
which she was beginning to hold so loosely, she declared 
her intention to act for herself in the matter, made 
stricter laws with regard to her slave population, and 
joined hands with her Southern sisters upon the disputed 
question. 

New Parties. — The breacli now went on widening. The 
political parties of the country were no longer •' Federal- 
ist" and "Republican," "Whig" and "Democrat," but 
Slavery and Antislavery. New States were constantly 
being made, and the question constantly discussed was 
whether slave-holders would be permitted to carry their 
property into these new States. The Constitution of the 
United States permitted this, and many Southerners in- 
M 23 



266 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

sisted upon their rights ; but when they attempted it, 
they were beset by determined men, their property taken 
away, and many of the new States became the scenes of 
violence and bloodshed. 

John Brown's Raid. — One of the fiercest of the Free- 
soilera, as tliey were called, was John Brown, of Kansas. 
His whole life liad been one of adventure, and now, in his 
old age, the idea of freeing the slave seems to have taken 
full possession of his thouguts. He seems to have been 
utterly destitute of fear, and although his life had been 
a very wicked one, on this one point 1 think he believed 
himself right, and was perhaps not so much to blame as 
many intelligent men at the North who encouraged him 
in his violent course of conduct. Encouraged by these, 
John Brown laid a deep scheme for treeing the negroes, 
first in Yirginia, and then carrying his victorious arms 
into the other Southern States. For two years did he pre- 
pare for this object. Silently and secretly he purchased 
arms. Those he intended for the use of the negroes were 
simple pikes, but capable of doing deadly work in the 
hands of a skilful workman. He had with him only 
eighteen men, but he expected to have his numbers 
swelled by the slaves as soon as his presence was known. 

Harper's Ferry captured. — On Sunday night, the 16th 
of October, 1859, he crossed the Potomac from Maryland, 
and entered Harper's Ferry, captured the United States 
Arsenal at that place, and sent out armed men to capture 
the prominent slave-holders in the neighborhood and to 
announce liberty to the negroes. So silently was all this 
done that even the citizens of the town remained in ])er- 
fect ignorance of the invasion until the next morning, when 
ever}^ one who left his house was at once captured an^l im- 
prisoned in an engine-house very near to the arsenal. In 
the mean time the armed parties returned, bringing in some 
gentlemen ])risoners and many slaves, in whose hands the 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 267 

pikes were placed, and they were ordered to "strike for 
freedom ;" but the poor creatures onl}' lool^ed frightened 
to death, aod showed little disposition to take advantage 
of their opportunities, and John Brown found that he 
nad nothing to hope from their assistance. 

The Invaders defeated. — Soon the new^s of this in- 
vasion of Virginia spread through the country, and the 
excitement surpassed anything ever known there before. 
The people flocked towards Harper's Ferry from all direc- 
tions, wiih arms in their hands, and before night Brown 
and his party were shut up in the engine-house and sur- 
rounded by indignant Virginians. As soon as the news 
reached Washington, the government ordered a party of 
marines to proceed to Harper's Ferry under the command 
of Colonel Robert E. Lee, and Brown was summoned to 
surrender; he refused, and the engine-house was stormed 
by ihe marines, and in less than thirty-six hours after he 
had entered Virginia, John Brown and his party were 
either killed or captured, and the insurrection which he 
had taken two years to prepare came to nothing ; not 
a negro volunteered to join him. Ten of his men were 
killed, and all the rest wounded, including Brown himself. 
The first blood they shed was that of a free negro named 
Heyward, ana oesides, they killed five of their opposers 
and wounded nme. The criminals were brought to trial 
at Charlestown, Virginia, and were executed by the laws 
of Virginia ; and all over the North meetings of approval 
Were held. 

Thus ended the "John Brown raid," as it was called ; but 
this was the commencement of a series of events which 
constitute a new era in the history of Virginia. 



268 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION 

1. From what year to what year does this chapter include? 

2. What period followed these events in the history of Virginia? 

3. Name the first five Presidents of the United States, the length of time 

they served, and from what States they came. 

4. What did Mr. Jefi"erson do at the close of his Presidential teim, and 

how dill he employ his advancing years ? 

5. To the accomplishment of what idea did he devote his thoughts? 

6. Where did he propose building the University of Virginia? 

7. Tell of his difficulties, and how he accomplished his design. 

8. When did Mr. Jefferson die? 

9. What next engaged the attention of the statesmen of the United Statei)? 

10. Tell of the Virginia Convention. 

11. What three great patriots do we miss at this Convention? 

12. Who were there, and what of the past did they recall ? 

13. Where have you known John Randolph before? 

14. What was accomplished by the Convention ? 

15. What institution now became a source of trouble? 

16. What made the difference of feeling on the subject? 

17. How did the two sections regard it? 

18. What position did Virginia occupy? 

19. What effect did opposition have upon her, and why? 

20. What were the two political parties in the country now? 

21. Who was John Brown, and what was his history? 

22. What scheme did he form? 

23. Tell of his raid into Virginia. 

24. How did it end ? 

25. What period does this mark in the history of Virgrijaia ? 



EXPLANATORY LETTER, 



My dear Young Friends : — When I wrote the thirtieth 
chapter of this book; I said to you: The John Brown 
raid was the beginning of a series of events which con- 
stitute a new era in the history of Virginia, — too new to 
be described with that spirit of calmness and impartiality 
which should characterize the historian. So here our his- 
tory of the old commonwealth closes. I have held up 
before you a truthful portrait of the Virginia of the past, 
' — a mother of whom all of her children may justly be 
proud. May her record in the future lose none of its 
brightness; may she always be found standing firm on the 
side of truth and right; and may her children ever live 
worthy of the examples set them by their forefathers ; and 
thus, by their moderation and wisdom, pilot the old ship 
of state through the sea of troubles which now threatens 
to overwhelm her. 

The years which have passed since then have given time 
for the passions of men to cool, and it is right that the 
children of Virginia should have a true history of the part 
the State took in that period which *^tried men's souls" as 
in a furnace of fire. This is the more necessary, because 
inost of the histories of the war which have been written 
for the schools have been compiled by those who were 
victors in the conflict, and they naturally give their side 
of the question, and fail to do justice to the motives which 
influenced the Southern States in their action. And while 
I feel that every one who has anything to do with forming 
the opinions of the rising generation should do all he can 

23* 2t)9 



270 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

to heal the wounds of the' past, cultivate that patriotism 
which is one of the highest elements of our nature, and 
cherish that kindliness of feeling between the different sec- 
tions of our country which will prevent in the future a 
repetition of the woes of the past, yet it is only justice 
that the descendants of those who laid down their lives in 
the war should know that they laid them down, not as 
" Eebels" against the government to which they had sworn 
allegiance, but with the truest loyalty and obedience to the 
commands of their States, to which they honestly believed 
they owed their first obedience. 

The object which I have set before me in preparing this 
supplement is to show you that Virginia never, in her 
whole history, occupied a prouder position than when, with 
patience, wisdom, and moderation, she placed herself be- 
tween the two sections and exhausted every means to pre- 
serve the Union and avert the war, and, when all failed, 
threw in her lot with the side which fought for the prin- 
ciples which she had always advocated. She was the 
battle-ground ; her fair fields were desolated ; her groves 
were levelled, and her soil stained with the blood of her 
sons. She was left desolated, impoverished, and bleeding, 
but with her honor unstained, the crown of her fame 
untarnished. 

In order that you may understand the questions which 
gave rise to the war, it is necessary that we review some 
facts which I have already told you; and it has occurred 
to me that I might make this more interesting if I gave it 
the form of a letter, writing as one friend to another ; and 
I want each one wh(? reads it to feel that the letter is in- 
tended for you, from a friend, and to tr}^ and understand 
every word, and I will, on my part, strive to be as simple 
and clear as possible. 

You know that when the government of England be- 
came so oppressive to her colonies in America, they deter- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 271 

mined to throw off the yoke of England and govern them- 
selves. There were thirteen different colonics which made 
this determination, and they became thirteen different 
States, each with a governor and legislature of its own. 
But their intercuts in many things were the same; for in- 
stance, though separate, they were one in their resistance 
to England ; and thus, fighting all together for an object 
of mutual interest, they were bound to each other with 
ties of affection; so they all signed the Declaration of 
Independence, and formed a government in which they 
united as the United States of America. Now, when they 
joined in this united government, there were many of the 
great and wise men of all the States who were very much 
afraid that the Union might interfere with the State gov- 
ernments. So, in framing the laws, or Constitution, of the 
United States, they tried to make it as plain as possible 
that each State was to have its own government, and that 
the United States government was not to interfere in any- 
thing in which there were no common interests. You 
remember, in chapter twenty-fourth, the words in which 
Virginia instructed her delegates to the General Congress 
in Philadelphia. 

But, as time went on, there arose controversies over this 
very matter, particularly on the subject of slavery ; those 
who were opposed to it contending that the general govern- 
ment should interfere to prevent its extension into the 
Territories and new States, and some of the more extreme 
opponents going so far as to advocate interference with it 
in the localities where it already existed. The South con- 
tended that the general government had nothing to do with 
it, and that it was a domestic institution which each State 
should be left to manage for itself, with the right on the 
part of its citizens to carrj- their slaves into the Territories 
that belonged alike to all the States. Every year this 
question was discussed in Congress, and, as is always the 



272 HISTORY OF VI KG I MA. 

case when people quarrel, bitterness grew between the sec- 
tions, and the John Brown raid, in October, 1859, gave 
the finishing stroke to the matter. Then the Southern 
States began to talk of withdrawing, or seceding, from the 
Union. 

During the fall of 1860 there was an election to be held 
for President of the United States, and there were four 
candidates brought out. The one who was elected was 
Abraham Lincoln, and he was chosen by that party which 
was opposed to slavery and was pledged to prevent its ex- 
tension beyond the limits it then occupied, and whose 
extreme members even wished, as I have said, to interfere 
with it in the States. So most of the Southern States de- 
termined to withdraw, believing that the success of the 
party which was bitterl}^ opposed to slavery would lead to 
a violent interference with their domestic affairs. South 
Carolina seceded on the 20th of December, and v/as fol- 
lowed in two months by six others. Great anxiety was 
felt that Virginia should join the Southern Confederacy, 
both on account of her influence in the Union and the fact 
that from her position between the two sections she would 
necessarily be the battle-ground. But it was not the way 
with Virginia to act hastily. She loved the Union, and 
knew that war would bring sorrow and loss to her. So 
she proposed a peace congress to meet in Washington on 
the 4th of February, and at the same time the Legislature 
called a convention of the people of Virginia to meet in 
Richmond, on the same day, to decide what course Vir- 
ginia should take. The Peace Congress met and accom- 
plished nothing, and the Convention sat until May, watch- 
ing the course of events. 

On the 15th of April, President Lincoln issued a procla- 
mation for seventy-five thousand troops to suppress the 
action which the people in some of the Southern States 
had considered it proper to take in order to maintain their 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 273 

rights. The Southern people considered this proclamation 
as a declaration of war, and as a violation of the Consti- 
tution, which declared Congress the war-making power; 
and when, in the same proclamation, the President called 
upon Virginia and all the other States to raise large armies 
to subdue the South, there remained nothing for Yirginia 
to do but to pass an ordinance of secession, and throw in 
her lot, for better or worse, with those States which were 
about to fight to the death for those principles which she 
had always advocated. The Convention, which had been 
sitting in Richmond since the 4th of February, passed the 
ordinance of secession on the 17th of April, three days after 
the Lincoln proclamation. Always, however, particular to 
do things lawfully, Virginia decided to submit the ordi- 
nance to the vote of the peo2)le, who, as sole sovereigns, 
had the right to decide. This would take some time, in the 
condition of the country at that juncture. So the 23d of 
May was fixed upon. There was no doubt as to their de- 
cision. As the whole country was in a state of dissatisfac- 
tion about the " slowness of Yirginia," as they termed it, 
they declared that her Commissioners had been " kicked 
out of Washington," and many other things natural in the 
excitement and eagerness of the times. 

But, while it was necessary to take the vote of the 
people before Yirginia could be properly said to be out 
of the Union, it was also necessary, as she thought, to 
take possession of the government workshops at Har- 
per's Ferry, ]N"orfolk, and other points. So the Yirginia 
troops were called out and ordered to seize these points. 
About this I will tell. you more in my next chapter. 

Maryland was quite as earnest as Yirginia for the South- 
ern cause, but, because of her position, it was harder for her 
to join the Southern States, and the North determined that 
she should not do so, and they did succeed in preventing her 
secession, but her brave soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder 



274 HISTOBY OF VIRGINIA. 

with Yirginians. And when the Northern troops passed 
through Baltimore to go against the South, they were met 
by a mob of the citizens, who declared that this should not 
be. Blood was shed on both sides, and the governor, who 
acted in the interests of the. North, notified the United 
States government that the people could not be controlled 
if troops were brought through the city ; so they were 
taken through Annapolis, and Marylanders were assured 
that the troops were only to be used to defend the Capitol, 
at Washington. Maryland suffered greatly at this time ; 
her prominent citizens were arrested and imprisoned, 
and troops were raised on her soil ; but she was true at 
heart all through the struggle, and spared nothing of 
men, money, and stores to help the cause she loved. 

And this brings me to the w^ar, and to the end of my 
letter. I hope it has been simple enough for you all to 
understand, and that you are prepared to listen to the 
story of one of the most wonderful struggles the world 
ever saw, with the interest it deserves, and the intelli- 
gence which will enable you through life to judge can- 
didly of the issues involved, so that you may be able to 
appreciate the true patriotism of those who gave up 
everything for what they believed to be right. It re- 
mains for your generation to save from that dishonor 
which is apt to surround an unsuccessful struggle, the 
cause for which your fathers died. Accept this duty as 
a sacred trust, and hold it in perfect consistency with 
the truest patriotism to the government to which we all 
belong. I am your true friend, 

Mary Tucker Magill. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 275 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What was the condition of aflfairs when the former portion of this book 

was written, that prevented the author from continuing the history ? 

2. What change has taken place in men's minds ? 

3. Why is it necessary that the history of the war should be written ? 

4. Why did the colonies separate from England ? 

5. What is meant by State rights? 

6. What difference of opinion existed on this point ? 

7. What was the great subject of difference between the States? 

8. Was slavery the cause of the war? If not, what was the real question? 

9. What do you mean by secession ? 

10. Upon what grounds did the South think that she bad a right to secede? 

11. Which State seceded first? 

12. What course did Virginia take ? 

13. What decided her to pass an ordinance of secession ? 

14. What was the course pursued by Maryland ? 

15. What duty should this generation accept as a sacred trust? 



CHAPTEE XXXI. 
1861. 

DESTRUCTION OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY IN VIRGINIA — RICH- 
MOND MADE THE CAPITAL OF THE CONFEDERACY-LEE AP- 
POINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE TROOPS IN VIRGINIA- 
•• STONEWALL JACKSON"— PLAN FOR THE INVASION OF VIRGINIA 
—COUNTER-PLANS— JOHNSTON— BEAUREGARD— " JEB STUART." 

When Virginia seceded she was entirely without prep- 
aration for war. Her only standins^ army was a company 
of soldiers who guarded the public property at Eichmond. 
There were throughout the State a number of volunteer 
companies, many of which had been organized under the 
feeling of alarm caused by the John Brown raid. 

The Armory of the State was in a neglected condition, 
and contained only a few thousand antiquated and almost 
worthless muskets. But the authorities set to work in 



276 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

earnest. The manufacture of cannon and fire-arms was 
commenced and the State was in a blaze of excitement with 
military preparations. It was deemed important to take 
possession of Harper's Ferry, at the junction of the Po- 
tomac and Shenandoah Eivers, where the United States 
government had military workshops and a great number 
of arms. The governor ordered some volunteer companies 
from Staunton and Winchester to capture the place. The 
militia of the neighborhood commenced assembling for the 
same purpose. The United States officer in command, hear- 
ing of these hostile movements, without awaiting orders 
from Washington, on the night of the 18th of April at- 
tempted to destroy the factories and arsenal and military 
storehouse by setting them on fire. Before the work of 
destruction was completed the Yirginia troops arrived and 
rescued a large quantity of machinery, cannon, and small- 
arms of great value to the new government. These were 
removed south. 

The navy-yard and shipping at Norfolk were also set 
on fire and abandoned ; but, as was the case at Harper's 
Ferry, the worit was too hastily done to be fully accom- 
plished. The valuable dock, costing many millions of dol- 
lars, was saved. Fortress Monroe was garrisoned by Fed- 
eral troops under General Butler. 

War was now fairly begun. The Confederate gov- 
ernment removed from Montgomery, where it had been 
organized, after the secession of Alabama, to Richmond, 
which was chosen as the permanent capital of the South- 
ern Confederacy. Colonel Eobert E. Lee, who had given 
up his position in the United States army on the secession 
of Virginia, was offered by the governor, with the consent 
of the Convention of Virginia, the command of the forces 
of the State. He was the son of " Light-Horse Harry," 
Lee, a famous Eevolutionary officer, and had himself won 
a high reputation in the Mexican War. The esteem in 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 277 

which he was held would have insured him the principal 
command in the armies of the United States if he had 
remained in the service of that government. But he 
determined to share the fortunes of his native State, Yir- 
ginia. He was soon afterwards put in chief command of 
the Confederate troops in Virginia. 

Military Proceedings. — Of course the army was per- 
fectly undisciplined. This happy land knew nothing of the 
arts of war ; so a military camp of instruction was estab- 
lished near Eichmond, which was called Camp Lee. It 
was determined to bring some of the cadets from the 
military school at Lexington to drill the soldiers, and 
Major Thomas J. Jackson, then a professor in this school, 
afterwards renowned as the Christian hero, "Stonewall 
Jackson," was ordered to bring them to Eichmond. Major 
Jackson wrote to his wife from Eichmond that he had 
never seen anything like the military ardor through the 
country. At every station where they stopped petitions 
were presented to him to let them have a cadet to drill tlie 
men in the neighborhood. The greatest enthusiasm pre- 
vailed everywhere through the South ; every branch of 
business was deserted for the army ; even the boys in the 
schools thought the time spent in study was time thrown 
away when the South was to be defended. 

" Stonewall Jackson." — The camp of instruction was 
in charge of another officer, but Major Jackson during his 
short stay there informally aided in the drill and discipline 
of the new levies that were flocking in from the Southern 
States, using the cadets whom he had brought from the 
Military Institute as assistants. While he was thus en- 
gaged, the Governor of Virginia nominated him for colonel 
of volunteers. This appointment excited some surprise, 
for, although he had distinguished himself in the Mexican 
War, that was long enough ago for it to be forgotten, and 
he was only known to the world generally as an unpre- 

24. 



278 HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 

tending professor at the Military Institute, who was laughed 
at by the boys for his eccentricities. When Governor 
Letcher nominated him for the position of colonel of volun- 
teers, some one asked, contemptuously, " Who is this Jack- 
son ?" The answer came promptly from one who knew 
him, ''He is one who if ordered to hold a post will never 
leave it, so long as he has life to defend it !" 

He received the appointment, and was ordered to Har- 
per's Ferry on the 27th of April to take command of the 
troops who were assembling there. These were the holiday 
days of the war. The army was made up principally of 
young men who had been reared in luxurious homes and 
knew nothing of the hardships which lay in their paths. 
Full of military ardor, and lacking the wisdom which only 
comes with experience, they expected to conquer their foes 
in the first battle and live heroes ever after. But it was 
not long before they learned that war is not all enjoyment. 
Sickness attacked them ; the measles and dysenterj^ were 
enemies which overcame hundreds and laid them low be- 
fore they even heard the sound of cannon. Oh, how sad 
it was to go through the hospitals and see those young 
boys, hardly more than children, with all their longing for 
military gloiy, dying on their hard pallets before they 
had been able to strike even one blow for the cause in 
which they had enlisted! General Joseph E. Johnston 
was appointed by the Confederate government to take 
command at Harper's Ferry on the 23d of May, and 
Colonel Jackson was appointed to a brigade consisting of 
four regiments of infantr^^, or foot-soldiers, who were Vir- 
ginians, and constituted the " Stonewall Brigade" afterwards 
BO celebrated in the annals of the war. 

The First Bloodshed.— On the 24th of May the Fire 
Zouaves, U.S.A., marched across the Long Bridge at AYash- 
ington, and proceeding to Alexandria, took possession of the 
place in the name of the United States. This was the first 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 279 

Invasion of the State by the enemy. No opposition was 
expected to this, as there were no Southern troops at Alex- 
andria; but it was not a bloodless victory, and the war 
was fated to begin with a citizen of the State giving his 
life in defence of his home. As the troops entered the city 
they saw floating from the top of the Marshall House — a 
small hotel— a Confederate flag. Colonel Ellsworth, the 
officer in command, at once declared his intention to take 
it down, and entering the house, he ascended the stairs to 
the roof and took down the flag, and commenced his de- 
scent. At the first landing he encountered Mr. Jackson, 
the owner of the house. He was half dressed, having 
come out in great haste upon hearing of the invasion of 
his premises. " This is my trophy," said Colonel Ellsworth 
to him, holding up the flag. " And this is mine !" answered 
Jackson, firing a pistol-ball into bis breast. He fell dead in- 
stantly, and in another second Jackson fell across his body, 
pierced by the bayonets and bullets of Ellsworth's followers. 

The Federal Plans. — The great object intended to be 
accomplished by the invasion of Virginia was the capture 
of Eichmond, which, as the capital of the State and the 
Confederacy, would strike a blow at the whole cause and 
place the State again under Federal rule. Four armies 
were to invade Virginia: the first by way of Fortress 
Monroe up the Peninsula between the James and York 
Rivers; the second, of which the regiment under Ells- 
worth was the forerunner, by way of Manassas to Gordons- 
ville, and so on to Richmond ; the third was to enter the 
State at Williarasport and march up the Valley of the 
Shenandoah ; and the fourth was to come from the north- 
west towards the same point. If you will take a map of 
Virginia you will understand the whole plan perfectly, and 
thus will follow the story of the war with fuller interest. 

Confederate Movements. — Of course the Confederate 
government had so to divide the Southern forces as to 



280 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

prevent the success of this plan. So an army was sent to 
the Peninsula under the command of G-enerals Magrudei 
and Huger. Another was sent to Manassas under General 
Seauregard, a gallant soldier who had fired the first gun of 
the war at Charleston, South Carolina. The third army 
was at Harper's Ferry under General Johnston, another 
Virginian, whose reputation and experience made him well 
fitted for the important command to which he was aS' 
signed ; and under him was Colonel Jackson. The first of 
the four lines to strike was in North-western Virginia, 
where the Confederates met with a great disaster. The 
army was destroyed, six hundred captured, and their gen- 
eral (Garnett) killed. This encouraged the victors and dis- 
couraged the Confederates very much. On the 10th of 
June there was a battle at Big Bethel, on the Peninsula, 
where four thousand Federals were defeated by eighteen 
hundred Confederates, which, though a much less im- 
portant affair than the West Virginia defeat, served to 
encourage the army, which at this period was very easily 
depressed or elated. 

The Confederate army was very much smaller than 
that of the United States, for this reason: the South had 
been divided into large plantations, and had few large cities; 
the population, therefore, was much smaller, and besides, 
the North could draw from the whole world. The North 
also had the treasury of the United States, and the South 
was poor. Thus it required a great deal of management so 
to use these small armies as to meet the groat forces op- 
posed to them. But they were wisely placed in positions 
where they could be thrown together quickly if any one 
point was attacked. A great deal of strategy and watch- 
fulness were required to make up the difference in numbers. 
So while General Beauregard kept his whole attention fixed 
upon the daily increasini^^ army between him, at Manassas, 
and Alexandria, General Johnston was watching an army 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 281 

of eighteen thousand men which had crossed the Potomac 
Eiver at Williamsport, and was moving towards the Valley 
of the Shenandoah. The army under General McClellan, 
which had defeated General Garnett in the north-west, 
having nothing opposed to it, was advancing, twenty 
thousand strong, while the Confederates did not have one- 
fourth of their number to oppose them. Couriers were 
kept going with despatches between the armies all the 
time, and the cavalry was untiring in its vigilance. 

**Jeb Stuart." — Among the Yirginia cavalry officers 
(and we are obliged to confine ourselves to them for want 
of space and because this is a history of Yirginia and of Vir- 
ginians) there was one who was connected with Johnston's 
army who merits especial mention : General J. E. B. Stuart, 
familiarly known as " Jeb Stuart," who by his indefatigable 
energy and youthful ardor infused into his service a dash- 
ing boldness which made him like a guardian spirit to the 
army. He was educated at West Point and had fought 
the Indians on the prairies, so that all of his experience 
served to fit him for his present task. He appeared to 
know every movement of the enemy by instinct. He 
seemed to be in a dozen places at once. I^iding into camp 
at a full gallop, he would hastily report his knowledge of 
aflPairs to the commanding officer, and then, without taking 
time for rest, he was off and away to join his trusted com- 
rades in dogging the steps of the enemy, running incredible 
risks and laughing over his hair-breadth escapes. General 
Johnston said he was like a "yellow-jacket;" he was no 
sooner brushed off than he was there again. 

Harper's Ferry was a most important post to the Fed- 
eral government, as it commanded the Baltimore and Ohio 
Railroad, which crossed the Potomac at this point, and was 
the shortest route for soldiers and provisions to pass to and 
from Washington. For this reason the Confederate govern- 
ment wj?s very anxious to hold it ; but the Secretary of War 



282 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



had such confidence in General Johnston that he told him 
that he must do as he thought best. So when General 
Stuart brought in the news that Patterson was advancing 
towards Martinsburg, and that McClellan had reached 
Romney (find these places on the map), he thought it was 
best to move farther in the Valley, so as to keep these two 




HARPER'S FERRY. 



armies from joining and crushing him and then going down 
to Manassas to join the Army of the Potomac against Beau- 
regard. So he made his preparations to move by burn- 
ing the great railroad bridge over the Potomac at Harper's 
Ferry, so that the United States would have no way of 
transporting troops and provisions. Then he withdrew to 
Bunker Hill, about twelve miles from the little city of 
Winchester. There he offered battle to General Patterson ; 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 283 

but Patterson did not want to fight, and retired. Johnston 
then fell back to Winchester, threw up fortifications, and 
waited for news from Stuart. He did not wait long, for 
Stuart soon reported that Patterson was again on the 
move towards Martinsburg, and Jackson, on the 20th of 
June, was sent with his brigade to Martinsburg. 

Thirst for Battle. — The writer of this was in Winches- 
ter at this time, and will never forget the enthusiasm of the 
soldiers at the prospect of a fight. They had been in camp 
so long that they were impatient for some activity, and they 
knew that they were apt to have it if they followed Jackson. 
Jackson paused at Martinsburg long enough to destroy all 
of the rolling stock of the railroad at that place which he 
could not send to Winchester, and then he joined Stuart in 
front of Patterson's army, near Williamsport. There could 
not be a better combination than that which was made 
by these two ofiicers. This was the first of many occasions 
when they served together. With Stuart to watch, and 
Jackson to take advantage of his information, there was 
no possible opportunity lost. Jackson had orders not to 
fight, but to '• feel the enemy." But this " feeling" amounted 
to a sharp little skirmish at Falling Waters : just enough 
to give the hungry boys a taste of battle. Jackson then 
fell back slowly to Darkesville, about four miles from 
Martinsburg, where he was joined by Johnston, Patter- 
son took possession of Martinsburg, where he was rein- 
forced. Johnston continued to otfer battle, but when he 
found that Patterson did not intend to fight he returned 
to Winchester, leaving Stuart in front of the enemy. 



284 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What orders were issued when the news from Virginia reached Wash- 

ington ? 

2. Give an account of the changes that were made. 

3. From what point and to what point was the Confederate government 

removed ? 

4. Who was appointed commander-in-chief of the forces in Virginia? 

5. Who was appointed to drill the soldiers at Camp Lee ? 

6. Where was Colonel Jackson next sent ? 

7. Who took his place at Harper's Ferry ? 

8. Give an account of the taking of Alexandria. 

9. What was the plan for the invasion of Virginia? 

10. How did the Confederates prepare to prevent the taking of Richmond? 

11. Which line of approach was struck first, and what was the result? 

12. Which was struck second, and with what result? 

13. Who was the cavalry officer with Johnston in the Shenandoah Valley? 

14. What was Beauregard's position at Manassas? 

15. How did the Confederates make up the difference which existed in the 

size of the armies ? 

16. Why was Harper's Ferry regarded as so important, and why did Johns- 

ton retire from it ? 

17. Give an account of Jackson's advance to meet Patterson. 



CHAPTEE XXXI 1. 
1861. — Continued. 

MANCEUVRES OF JOHNSTON AND PATTERSON— JOHNSTON CHANGES 
HIS BASE-LINE OF BATTLE— BATTLE OF MANASSAS— FLIGHT OF 
THE FEDERAL ARMY— CHANGES IN THE ARMY— JACKSON'S FARE- 
WELL TO HIS BRIGADE— BATTLES OF LEESBURG AND THE ALLE. 
GHANY. 

The manoeuvring between Generals Johnston and Pat- 
terson continued for about two weeks after Johnston rer 
turned to AYincbester. Each knew that the i^reat battle 
would be fought at Manassas, and the object of Patterson 
was to prevent Johnston from reinforcing Beauregard by 
keeping near enough to make him believe all the time that 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 285 

he would meet him in battle. The author remembers well 
the excitement which arose every day among the young 
soldiers, so eager for the fight, when in the morning they 
would advance to offer battle to Patterson, who was only 
twelve miles away at Bunker Hill, and how cast down 
they were when they would have to return with the news 
that Patterson had refused to fight. But although the 
soldiers could not tell the reason of all these strange 
movements, the officers in command knew all about it, 
and were not at all surprised when a despatch was re- 
ceived on the 19th of July to the effect that General 
McDowell, who was in command of the Army of the Po- 
tomac, was marching to attack Beauregard. 

Johnston's March. — There had actually been, on the 
18th of July, a slight engagement at Bull Eun with the 
advance of his army, and Johnston was ordered to join 
Beauregard as soon as possible. General Jackson had 
just received his commission as brigadier-general, with 
an important addition to his command. Johnston lost 
no time in obeying instructions. Leaving Stuart to bring 
up his rear, and so to act as to prevent Patterson from 
suspecting his (Johnston's) departure, away he went across 
the mountain at Ashby's Gap, and was at Manassas, fifty 
miles away, before Patterson suspected the movement. 

The battle of Manassas was the first general engage- 
ment of the war, and both armies were entirely inexperi- 
enced. The Federal army was fifty-two thousand strong, 
while the Confederates had thirty-two thousand men. The 
equipments of the Federal army — by which you must under- 
stand the fire-arms, artillery, uniforms, teams, and tents — 
were magnificent. The commissary department was per- 
fect. They had every preparation made for their comfort 
possible for an army in the field. The Northern news- 
papers had been preparing the country for this move 
for weeks. It was expected that the Confederates would 



286 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

be crushed at the first blow. So confident were the Fed- 
erals of success that a large number of citizens, including 
ladies, came from Washington and waited in the rear of 
their army, prepared to welcome the victors with feast 
ing and rejoicing. The Confederates, on the other hand, 
were poorly equip2:>ed and wretchedly clad. Their artil- 
lery and fire-arms were of the greatest variety of old- 
fashioned j^atterns. Few of the cannon were over six- 
pounders, while a large number of the infantry were 
armed with common muskets, and many of the cavalry 
with shot-guns which they had used in hunting game in 
the woods. The long lines of army wagons with tlieir 
snow-white covers, drawn by well-fed, strong horses, on 
the Federal side, contrasted strikingly with the coverless 
vehicles and the meagre horse-flesh in the Confederate 
rear. But the odds in other respects were all on the 
Confederate side, for they fought on their own soil, to 
repel the invader and defend their homes ; and these in- 
centives more than counterbalanced the superior numbers 
and equipment of their foe. 

Positions of the Troops. — It is not in my power 
to give a detailed account of tlie battle. That is an oft-told 
tale that does not need repetition. I confine myself to 
the history which you will not find elsewhere. The Con- 
federate line was eight miles long, extending along the 
southern bank of Bull Eun, which was fordable at various 
points ; and at these fords were placed the different divis- 
ions of tiie army. The Federal army was about three 
miles away, extending along the road from Centreville to 
Alexandria. In the artillerj' fight of the 18th, the effort 
was made to. cross two of the fords of Bull Eun, but Beau- 
regard drove them back, and now the plan was changed, 
and it was determined by the Federal commander to 
march a portion of his army around the head of the 
Confederate line, which was near a stone bridge, and by 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 287 

getting in the rear of the Confederates, crush them between 
the two Federal lines, or force them to retreat. This 
brought the heavy fighting just to that point, — the stone 
bridge. There the fight raged hour after hour with vary- 
ing success. At one time all seemed lost to the Confeder- 
ates, when reinforcements arrived, under Generals Bee and 
Bartow, to the assistance of Colonel Evans, who was out- 
flanked and sorely pressed. Here for two hours the Con- 
federate left wing resisted the assault of the enemy, but 
despite its heroic efforts it was steadily forced back by 
overwhelming numbers. The shattered ranks were ex- 
hausted and dispirited, while the Federal army was ex- 
ultant. 

At this critical moment General Jackson reached the 
scene with his brigade of two thousand six hundred men. 
These he quickly disposed upon the crest of a ridge, and 
posted seventeen pieces of artillery along his line. On 
the right of this brigade General Bee formed the remains 
of the forces under him and Evans. The w^hole numbered 
about six thousand five hundred. Against these a Federal 
column of twenty thousand, mostly fresh reserves, with 
twenty-four pieces of artillery, made impetuous charges 
from eleven till three o'clock, when again it seemed as 
if the day was about to be lost to the Confederates. Gen- 
eral Bee rode up to Jackson and said in despairing tones, 
" General, they are beating us back." " Then," replied 
Jackson, " we will give them the^ bayonet." This inspired 
Bee with fresh resolution, and hurrying back to his dis- 
pirited men he exclaimed, " There is Jackson standing 
like a stone wall. Eally behind the Virginians." 1'his 
circumstance gave to Jackson's brigade the name of the 
Stonewall Brigade. A bayonet charge was made before 
which the enemy recoiled and fled. The gallant Bee fell 
pierced by a ball. But fresh regiments continued to pour 
in, and the Federals extended their line still farther to the 



288 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



right. It was now four o'clock in the afternoon, and the 
Federals, who had been repul^d but not routed, were pre- 
paring for another determined effort. 




JACKSON AT MANASSAS (BULL RUN). 

Johnston's Troops arrive. — At this critical juncture 
the reserves from the Confederate right, nine miles dis- 
tant, arrived under Generals Early and Holmes, and ar- 
rested the flank movement of the Federals, while at the 
same time General Kirby Smith reached the field with 
the remainder of the army I'rom the Valley, who had 
arrived at Manassas Junction on the cars while the battle 
was raging, and following the sound of the cannon and 
musketry, assaulted the right wing of the Federal army. 
Consternation seized the ranks of the enemy from this un- 
expected attack, and giving way they fled in confusion from 
the field, and did not stop until they were across the Long 
Bridge and within the defences of Washington. General 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 289 

Bartow was killed while rallying his brave Georgians. 
While his life was ebbing away he exclaimed, " Yes, they 
have killed me, but never give up the field." General 
Kirby Smith was dangerously wounded. Thus ended 
one of the most remarkable battles of the world's history, 
—the baptism of the nation in blood. The Confederates 
captured twenty-eight cannon and five thousand musketa. 
General Jackson, seeing the demoralization and panic- 
stricken rout of the enemy, remarked that he believed 
with ten thousand fresh troops he could go into Wash- 

ington. 

The ^' Stonewall Brigade."— After the battle of Ma- 
nassas, General Jackson was again promoted, and ordered 
to a new command in the Valley of the Shenandoah. Thia 
command was made up from the army which had been 
doing a great deal of hard fighting in West Virginia; 
but it had accomplished very Kttle on account of the 
nature of the country, and it was determined to make 
the army more compact by bringing the different parta 
of it nearer together. In taking command of this divis- 
ion General Jackson was separated from the "Stonewall 
Brigade," which was ordered to remain under the com- 
mand of General Johnston. This was a great trial to him 
and to the brigade, as he had led them from the begin- 
ning of the war and the warmest affection existed between 
them. But orders must be obeyed, and it only remained 
for him to take leave of them, which he did in words too 
full of interest to be omitted. After speaking to them 
with the tender pride of a father of the record that they 
Had already made, and assuring them of the interest with 
which he would watch their future, his calm self-control 
gave place to the most profound emotion ; his lips quiv- 
ered, and, throwing the bridle on the neck of his horse, he 
rose in his stirrups and, extending his arms towards them, 
said, " In the Army of the Shenandoah you were the First 
N t 26 



290 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Brigade ! In the Army of the Potomac you were the First 
Brigade! In the Second Corps of the army you are the 
First Brigade ! You are the First Brigade in the affections 
of your general ; and I hope by your future deeds and bear- 
ing you will be handed down to posterity as the First Bri- 
gade in this our second War for Independence. Farewell !" 
May we not say that this invocation has been fulfilled ? But 
the separation between Jackson and the First Brigade lasted 
only a few weeks, for, much to the delight of all parties, they 
were ordered to join his command in November. 

The only battles that were fought on the soil of Vir- 
ginia during the remainder of the year 1861 were one near 
Leesburg, where eighteen hundred Confederates under 
Colonel Evans defeated eight thousand Federals with 
dreadful slaughter, and another in which General Edward 
Johnson with a very small army met a larger force of 
Federals in the Alleghany Mountains, and after fighting 
for six hours compelled them to leave him in possession of 
ihe field. 

Thus ended the year 1861 ; and although the Confed- 
erates had no reason to be discouraged (for they had gained 
many more battles than they had lost, and that against 
fearful odds), yet they had learned that war is a grave and 
sorrowful business, and both sides now knew that the final 
victory could only be gained by either side after hard 
fighting. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What was the real object of the movements of Johnston and Patterson/ 

2. What happened on the 19th of July? 

3. Give an account of the change of base. 

4. Describe the Federal army. 

6. Describe the Confederate army. 

6. What made up the difference between themf 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 291 

7. What was the position of the two armies? 

8. Describe the battle of Manassas. 

9. Give in.-*tances to illustrate the spirit of the men. 

10. What changes were made ? 

11. Give an account of Jackson's farewell to the "Stonewall Brigade." 

12. What other battles were fought on the soil of Virginia during tho 

remainder of the year 1861 ? 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 
1862. 

SITUATION OF CONFEDERATE FORCES-EXPEDITION TO ROMNEY— 
JACKSON RESIGNS-" ON TO R1CHM0ND"-BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN 
—CHANGE OF BASE FROM MANASSAS TO RICHMOND— JACKSON IN 
THE VALLEY. 

McClellan in Command.— The year 1862 opened for 
the Confederacy with much to encourage, and yet with 
some discouragements. They had held their own and had 
inflicted some severe blows upon the enemy. They had 
gained valuable experience in the art of war. The United 
States, on the other hand, so far from being discouraged 
by their reverses, were determined on the conquest of the 
South. New armies were raised and money flowed into 
the treasury in a steady stream. General Scott had been 
superseded as commander-in-chief of the army by General 
McClellan, who, from his successes in West Virginia, was 
extolled as the greatest hero the world had ever known. At 
the head of the " Grand Army of the Potomac," consisting 
of fifty thousand men, it was confidently expected that he 
would " walk over Johnston" and his forty thousand men 
at Manassas without difficulty, and thus wipe out the stain 
of the great defeat there, which had been a stinging mor- 
tification to the people of the North. 



292 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Jackson held the Valley with ten thousand men, 
having been reinforced by Generals Loriiig and Henry 
Jackson with their forces from West Virginia. From his 
post in Winchester he kept his eagle eye flashing from one 
point to another, watching the columns of the enemy that 
were waiting the proper moment to swoop down upon him 
and drive him from the face of the earth. He well knew 
that each of the three columns that were threatening him 
largely outnumbered the forces under his command, and 
that if they succeeded in making a junction he could 
never resist them, and that without his protection to 
Johnston's flank the latter would be utterly destroyed 
and Eichmond and the whole State placed at the mercy 
of the enemy. 

The armies were in winter- quarters and there was 
not much fear of an advance before spring opened. How 
could the time be best utilized when there was so much to 
be done ? There was a large force in Northwest Virginia 
wintering at Eomney and Bath, and Jackson determined, 
as the weather was very fine, to drive these out of Vir- 
ginia and leave a detachment of his army to protect that 
part of the country, and thus break up the plans of the 
enemy. Accordingly he started from Winchester on the 
1st of January, on the road towards Eomney. Unfortu- 
nately, the fine weather came to an end the day after they 
started and a most terrible \vinter storm set in. (The ac- 
count of the sufferings of the men remind one of the story 
of Napoleon crossing the Alps.) Bat still Jackson pressed 
forward, in the face of murmuring, dissatisfied ofiicers and 
suffering soldiers, and through the most incredible difficul- 
ties succeeded in his purpose, and returned to Winchester 
in two weeks, leaving Loring in command at Eomney and 
not a Federal soldier in that part of the State. 

Romney abandoned. — Unfortunately, however, some 
of the dissatisfied ofiicers who were left at Eomney signed 



HISrOliV OF VIRGINIA. 293 

and sent a petition to the government at Richmond asking 
to be relieved from their present position, representing 
Romney as of no importance in comparison to the outlay 
required to defend it. Their petition was granted and 
Romney abandoned. Upon hearing that his action had 
been thus set aside, General Jackson resigned his com- 
mand and requested to be ordered back to the Military 
Institute at Lexington. This created the greatest conster- 
nation in Richmord, and every effort was made to con- 
vince him that full confidence was reposed in him by the 
government, and witb much difficulty Jackson w^as induced 
to resume his command. Eut it was with bitter mortifica- 
tion that he soon heard that the enemy had returned in 
full force to Romney, and that all his efforts and the sacri- 
fices of his army had availed nothing. But he was a true 
Christian soldier, and determined to do his duty and leave 
the event to God. 

The plan for taking Richmond was the same as that 
laid down the year before. But while the Federal army 
operating against Virginia had been increased to one hun- 
dred and eighty-five thousand men, the Confederate army 
was comparatively very little larger than at the end of 
the campaign of 1861, and, to add to the embarrassment, 
the time of the men who had enlisted only for a year wae 
out, and they insisted on their right to go home, at least 
on a furlough. Everything was done to prevent this, and 
the patriotism of the men was sufficient in most cases to 
induce them to sta}^ at their posts. But the army was dis- 
organized and much anxiety was felt about the spring cam- 
paign. Johnston knew that an attack on him by McCIel- 
lan's great force would bring defeat to his army, and he 
determined to shorten his lines by falling back nearer 
Richmond, where he could defend it with fewer men. In 
order to accomplish this without McClellan's finding it out 
and preventing it by making an attack, it was necessary 

25* 



294 HISTORY OF VIRGIMA. 

that Jackson, in the Valley, should be very active and keep 
the army opposed to him fully engaged. 

A Dashing Officer. — You remember what good service 
General "Jeb" Sluart did for Johnston's army in the 
Valley at the beginning of the war. He was still with 
Johnston and as active as ever, while Jackson had for his 
cavalry general a young Virginian hardly inferior to Stuart, 
whose adventures I'ead like a romance. His name was 
Turner Ashby. He seemed incapable of fear and played 
with danger as if he loved it, and for a time his men and 
the enemy thought he bore a charmed life. He was in- 
valuable to Jackson ; ever on the alert with his men scour- 
ing the country in every direction. 

Jackson falls back. — It was on the 26th of February 
that General Banks, with thirty-five thousand men, crossed 
the Potomac at Harper's Ferr}- and General Kelly moved 
down from above w^ith eleven thousand men, while Jack- 
son had less than four thousand to meet them. He was 
expecting reinforcements, and was determined to do and 
dare all things to protect Johnston's retreat and to save 
the Valley from invasion. But the reinforcements did not 
come.. Still, Jackson hoped by a night surprise to over- 
come Banks, who had now advanced to within a few miles 
of Winchester. This was the situation on the 11th of 
March; Jackson hopeful of success over an enemy of ten 
times his number. But it was not to be. Late iji the 
evening he made a reconnoissance with Ashby, and they 
found that the foe had extended his folds about the de- 
voted little army until it was almost enclosed, but one 
small avenue of escape being left. — the road running south- 
west towards Staunton. Any one who knew Jackson's 
determined nature will be able to understand the terrible 
trial it was to him to give up his cherished ])lans. But the 
damrer to the cause from the capture of his army was too 
great, and most reluctantly he fell back. The next day 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 295 

Banks entered the devoted little cityj which received him 
with closed doors and windows, looking like a city of the 
dead. Jackson slowly fell back to Mount Jackson, about 
forty-five miles from Winchester, where he went into camp 
and waited, like a tiger ready to spring, for the first news 
of a movement of the enemy towards Johnston's army, 
which was now falling back towards Eichmond. 

The Battle of Kernstown. — He did not have long to 
wait. On the 21st of March, Ashby reported that a por. 
tion of Banks's arm>' had left Winchester and marched 
in the direction of Johnston's army; and the next thing 
Jackson was up and away with his faithful soldiers at his 
heels, making forced marches in the direction of Win- 
chester. He had not been reinforced, and had only about 
three thousand soldiers in his command. With these he 
fought the battle of Kernstown, just outside of Winchester, 
in which the e were at least eight thousand Federals ar- 
rayed against him. (The writer was in Winchester at the 
time, and can never forget the continuous roar of musketry 
and artillery during that battle.) Jackson always said 
that it was the hardest fight of the war. The Federals 
had actually given the order to retreat when they dis- 
covered that the Confederates were falling back. Jackson 
said that the battle was won, when one of his generals 
(Garnett), whose ammunition was exhausted, ordered his 
command to retreat. Of course the Federal order was 
countermanded and a pursuit ordered, and many of the 
Confederates w^ere captured. Jackson fell back slowly, 
turning at every step to offer battle to his pursuers. 

Jackson's Object gained. — But although he had to re- 
treat, he gained the object he had in view ; for the fifteen 
thousand men who had started towards Manassas, hear- 
ing the sounds of the battle, returned to Winchester, and 
Johnston withdrew his army in safety to their new^ lines. 
McClellan moved his army down to the Peninsula, from 



296 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

which direction he was determined to advance on Rich- 
mond; wliile General McDowell, at Fredericksburg, with 
another large force, was in position either to protect Wash- 
ington should it be attacked or to advance on Richmond 
from that side. I hope that you will study out this posi- 
tion on the map and understand it, so as to comprehend 
fully the interesting series of events of which I am going 
to tell you. 

Jackson's army was very far from being discour- 
aged by the result of the battle of Kernstown. The men 
knew that they had made a splendid fight and that they 
had the entire approval of their general, who they were 
convinced was the greatest man in the world. Their con- 
fidence in him reached its greatest height on that battle- 
field. Even Loring's troops, who had never been entirely 
friendly to him before, were his enthusiastic admirers from 
this time. His men used to laugh and say that the only 
rest they had was when they were retreating before the 
enemy. He always led them by forced marches when 
going towards the foe, but never fast enough on a retreat 
to lose the chance of a fight. 

The Situation. — They returned to their old camp at 
Mount Jackson for a few days, and General Jackson em- 
plo3'ed the interval in taking a view of the situation. Cer- 
tainly it looked hopeless". But so far from dismaying 
Jackson, it was the very situation he enjoyed. The object 
he set before him was to prevent these bodies of troops 
who were around him on every side from reinforcing 
McClellan on the Peninsula, and to accomplish that he 
must keep them occupied, and must defeat them so effect- 
ually that they would be in no condition to do such service. 
But how was this to be done? It was a question which 
would have puzzled any gen'eral less skilful than Jackson. 
Look at the map and try and take in the situation. Banks 
and Shields were at Strasburg; Fremont and Milroy were 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



297 



coming from the west to join them, and had reached 
Franklin and the village of McDowell, which is some dis- 
tance west of Staunton, while the Federal commander 
at Fredericksburg 
was ordered to 
send twenty thou- 
sand men to assist 
m tne great work 
of utterly destroy- 
ing Jackson. What 
made this the more 
important was the 
fear which pos- 
sessed the govern- 
ment at Washing- 
ton, that Jackson 
would whip out the 
Valley army, and 
come down through general tkomas j jackson. 

Maryland and cap- 
ture Washington while McClellan was fighting for Rich- 
mond. So it was upon this little army in the Valley that 
everything depended. McClellan was calling for more 
troops, or for General McDowell to advance from Fred- 
ericksburg, while President Lincoln declared that Mc- 
Dowell must protect the capital against the " Eebel Jack- 
son," who must be utterly destroyed. Now, Jackson knew 
that he could not resist all of these armies, each one larger 
than his own, if they were united; so he formed the daring 
plan of fighting them one by one and so preventing theii 
union. 




298 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



QUESTIONS FOK EXAMINATION. 

1. Describe the situation of the armies at Manassas, 

2. Where was Jackson, and what part had he to perform? 

3. What was the object of the Romney expedition ? 

4. What was the result ? 

5. Why did Jackson resign ? 

6. What was the Federal plan for taking Richmond? 

7. What was the greatest difficulty which the Confederates had to contend 

with? 

8. What did Johnston determine to do? 

9. What was Jackson's army to do? 

10. Why did he retreat from Winchester? 

11. What made him advance ? 

12. Describe the battle of Kernstown. 

13. What was gained by it? 

14. What change was made in the situation of Johnston's and McClellan' 

armies? 

15. Were Jackson's men discouraged by the retreat from Kernstown? 

16. Describe the situation of Jackson's army. 

17. What determination did he arrive at? 



CHAPTER XXXIY. 
1862. — Continued. 

THE CAMPAIGN OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. 

"The Rebel Jackson." — Jackson stayed in camp at 
Mount Jackson until tlie middle of April, while Banks ad- 
vanced sometimes within a few miles of him. but did not offer 
battle. But at the time mentioned Banks was reinforced 
and advanced for the purpose of attacking, and Jackson 
broke up camp and continued his retreat, crossing the 
Shenandoah at Port Republic, with the enemy so close to 
his heels that Ashby w^as nearly captured while attempt- 
ing to burn the bridge there. He crossed the Blue Ridge 
Mountains at Swift Run Gap, and could have been quite 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 299 

out of the reach of Banks if he had chosen ; but at that 
point he halted and waited the approach of the enemy. 
But Banks was satisfied at having him out of his sight, 
and telegraphed to Mr. Lincoln, '• The Rebel Jackson has 
abandoned the Valley permanently," and then retreated 
to Harrisonburg well satisfied with his work. 

Milroy defeated. — But the " liebel Jackson" had not 
finished his course yet. General Ewell joined him iit 
Swift Run Gap. Leaving Ewell to watch Banks, Jackson 
with the rest of his army made a hurried march through 
Staunton, met Milroy and defeated liim at McDowell, a 
little mountain village, and having forced him to retreat, 
he hastened to rejoin Ewell. As soon as Banks heard of 
the defeat of Milroy he made all haste to get back to Win- 
chester. He halted at Strasburg and waited the attack of 
the " Rebel Jackson," who, contrary" to his expectations, was 
back again in the Valley. Now it was necessary for Jack- 
eon to move rapidly, as McDowell, at Fredericksburg, was 
ready to advance on Richmond on one side with forty thou- 
sand troops, while McClellan was besieging it on the other 
side with one hundred thousand. He knew that as long as 
he could keep the L^nited States government alarmed for the 
safety of Washington, McDowell would be kept at Freder- 
icksburg to be within reach. 

Jackson's Route. — Now if you will look again at the 
map you will find that the Valley of Virginia from Swift 
Run Gap, where Jackson now was, is cut in two by a chain 
of mountains running lengthwise as far down as Strasburg 
and Front Royal, two little villages situated a few miles 
apart. This short range is called the Massanutten Moun- 
tain. You will readily see that for the full distance from 
Swift Run Gap to Strasburg and Front Royal there are 
two valleys: the short one is known as the Massanutten 
Valley, which terminates at Front Royal while Strasburg, 
where Banks was, is in the Shenandoah Valley. Xow it 



300 HISTORY' OF VIRGINIA. 

must be admitted that General Banks does not seem to 
have had any talent for military strategy. Apparently 
he had never heard of this short valley, or at least had 
made up his mind that the troublesome " Eebel" would at- 
tack him from the Shenandoah Valley, and he had pre- 
pared to destroy him then and there. He was somewhat 
astonished, therefore, on the afternoon of the 20th day of 
May, to hear tiring at Front Eoyal. Jackson had made a 
forced march down the Massanutten Valley from New 
Market to Front Royal, completely surprising the army 
there and capturing a quantity of stores and prisoners. 
Unfortunately, his army was so exhausted by its long 
marches and frequent battles that a night's rest at P'ront 
Royal was necessarj^, and this gave Banks time to com- 
mence his retreat to Winchester. 

The Battle of Winchester. — Early the next morning, 
however, Jackson was on his heels, and captured half of his 
wagon-train and killed and captured many of his men before 
they reached the fortifications at Winchester. Still, Banks 
was not safe from Jackson. The next morning, May 22, 
the battle of Winchester was fought, and again the Con- 
federates gained a great victor}^, and Jackson, after a few 
hours' fighting, entered Winchester at the heels of the fly- 
ing, panic-stricken army. The scene in the city beggars 
description. The citizens were as much surprised as the 
Federals. When the ladies saw the dingy gray uniform 
that they so loved, they rushed out into the streets, though 
the bullets were flying thick and fast, crying and laughing 
together as women are wont to do when excited. At one 
time the streets had to be cleared before the fighting could 
go on ; but later, when dead and wounded lay in the streets 
and the victorious army had swept on in pursuit, the women 
came out with lint and bandages and tenderly bound up 
the wounds of friend and foe alike. 

Jackson did not stop the pursuit until he had driven 



HISTORT OF VIRGINIA. 301 

Banks's army across the Potomac at Williamsport. There 
was a force at Harper's Ferry, and he advanced to that 
place; but when he had invested it he learned that the 
government at Washington had determined to sacritice 
all other plans to capture him and his army. Shields 
was coming from Fredericksburg with a large army ; Fre- 
mont from the west with another; Banks, largely reinforced, 
was ready to make another venture ; while the army in his 
front was larger than his own, since to meet all this he had 
only fifteen thousand men. But, so far from being dismayed, 
he only thought of the pressure which was thus taken off 
of the army before Eichmond. He moved from Harper's 
Ferry without delay, and succeeded in saving the two 
thousand three hundred prisoners and the immense amount 
of stores he had captured at Winchester. He met and 
defeated Fremont at Strasburg, and, leaving him behind 
him, retreated rapidly up the Valley. 

But Jackson ^vas not yet safe. Shields was at Front 
Eoyal, and, following the coarse that Jackson had taught 
him, he advanced up the Massanutten Yalley for the pur- 
pose of intercepting him before he could 'escape through 
the mountain gap. Fremont was pressing on his rear, and 
he was encumbered with his captured stores and prisoners. 
Steadily and swiftly the little army moved along the Shen- 
andoah Yalley while Ashby and his men kept watch and 
guard in every direction. Now on the top of the Massa- 
nutten range they marked the hurrying column of Shields's 
armj", and next in the Shenandoah Yalley attacked the ad- 
vancing columns of Fremont, while the commander in faded 
gray uniform kept on his steady way with undisturbed vis- 
age, because his heart within him was lifted above the pres- 
ent danger b}^ resting on the God of battles in whom was 
his trust. 

Death of Ashby. — On the 6th of June a sharp skir- 
mish occurred near Harrisonburg on the road leading 

26 



302 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

to Port Eepublic, and while it resulted in another triumph 
for the Confederates, the brave Ash by fell pierced to the 
heart, leading his troops, with the cry upon his lips, " Yir- 
i^inians, charge!" It was his last utterance; he expired 
instantly, with the shouts of victory ringing in his ears. 
Thus died, with his face to the foe, as brave a soldier, as 
gallant a leader, and as true a son to Virginia as was ever 
born upon her soil. It is related of him that when, at Har- 
per's P'erry, in the beginning of the war, a friend asked him 
what was the flag the armies would fight under, that he 
took from his hat a Virginia flag and replied, "This is the 
banner I intend to fight under!" His perfect fearlessness 
and vigilance, coupled with his love of adventure, made him 
a leader especially suited to act as Jackson's aide. Th^ 
brave oflficers who filled the vacancy his death made tried 
to follow out the many lessons which he had taught them 
The Positions of Jackson and the Federals. — In 
the positions of the opposing armies of the Valley there 
are several points of interest, and again would I ask you 
to look at your map and obtain an intelligent understand 
ing of the Bituation. Jackson was at Port Eepublic, a 
little village at the forks of the Shenandoah Eiver. Fif- 
teen miles away to the north-west, at Harrisonburg, was 
Fremont, and at the same distance to the north-east, at Con- 
rad's Store, was Shields. These two last-named generals 
were also about fifteen miles apart ; the space between the 
three forming the sides of a triangle. Due east from Port 
Eepublic is Swift Eun Gap, now quite familiar to you, and 
Shields was nearer to this outlet than Jackson. But ten 
miles farther south in the same chain is Brown's Gap, to 
which Jackson was much nearer than the Federal armies, 
and through this they could not now prevent his retreat. 
But he had no idea of leaving without a parting blow ; so 
he placed a portion of his army under General Ewell to 
watch out for Fremont while he attacked Shields. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 303 

A Surprise and Recovery. — Jackson, leaving Ewell at 
Cross Keys to watch Fremont, who was advancing from 
Harrisonburg, himself, with two brigades and his reserve 
artillery, occupied the heights overlooking the bridge over 
the Shenandoah at Port Eepublic. Early on the morning 
of the 8th of June a detachment of Shields's cavalry, with 
a section of artillery, dashed into Port Eepublic and w^ere 
near inflicting a serious disaster upon the surprised Con- 
federates ; but with heroic fortitude and alacrity, Jackson 
in person led the Thirty- seventh Virginia Eegiment and 
dislodged the enemy from the bridge, and hurrying up the 
remainder of his force, speedily drove off the enemy's 
cavalry and averted the threatened disaster. 

The Victory at Port Republic. — Later in the same 
day firing was heard on the Harrisonburg road in the di- 
rection of Cross Keys, five miles distant, between Ewell 
and Fremont. The latter had twenty thousand men, while 
liwell had not over six thousand. The fighting for some 
hours was very heavy, with decided advantage to the Con- 
federates. During the height of the engagement Jackson 
rode to the field from Port Eepublic and for a brief time 
observed the progress of the fight ; then returning to the 
command posted at the river to watch Shields, he sent Gen- 
eral Taylor with his Louisiana brigade to Ewell's assistance. 
At nightfall both sides lay down exhausted upon their arms, 
on the field. The next day, June 9, Jackson determined to 
strike Shields, and at the break of day ordered Ewell to 
march his command with all possible despatch and secrecy 
to Port Eepublic. His forces being now united he assailed 
Shields, and the desperate battle of Port Eepublic ensued. 
For hours the result was doubtful, but at last victory again 
crowned the banners of those who fought on their own soil, 
and the invader retreated utterly broken to pieces, with 
fearful sacrifice of life and the loss of nearly five hundred 
prisoners. Jackson had burned the bridge over the river, 



304 HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 

which was so much swollen that Fremont could not get 
across to make a junction with Shields, and fuming with 
rage, he was forced to look on at the defeat without being 
able to render the least assistance. The Confederate cav- 
alry under Colonel Munford, who commanded that branch 
of the army after the death of Ashby, crossing the river 
above Port Eepublic, pursued the retreating Federals to 
Harrisonburg, which he occupied on the 12th, Fremont 
having retired precipitately down the Valley, leaving be- 
hind his hospitals and a large number of anus, which fell 
into the hands of the Confederates. 

End of the Campaign. — This ended the celebrated 
Valley campaign, which for strategy and daring will stand 
side by side with the notable campaigns of the world's his- 
tory. In three months Jackson, with a comparativel}' small 
force, had marched six hundred miles, utterly defeated four 
armies each outnumbering his own two to one, and captured 
thousands of prisoners and millions of dollars' worth of 
stores and arms, all of which he succeeded in getting 
safely away. He had, besides, completely disarranged 
the plan laid down by the government at Washington 
for the conquest of the South, delaying McClellan's ad- 
vance against Richmond, while large armies were de- 
tached to operate against him in the Valley. Jackson did 
not leave the Valley until several weeks after tlie defeat of 
Shields and Fremont. His men were very much worn out 
and were permitted a period of rest. Colonel Munford, 
Ashby's successor, took Harrisonburg, with prisoners and 
stores, and the army camped between that place and Staun- 
ton. General Jackson moved his camps here and there to 
give the enem}- the idea that there were a great many Con- 
federates in the Valley. In consequence of this display of 
strength the Federal commanders were constantly expect- 
ing an advance from an overwhelming force, and troops 
were concentrated and fortifications thrown up. Jack- 



HISTORF OF VIRGINIA. 305 

eon's cavalry took care that there should be no commu- 
nication between tlie armies to contradict the exaggerated 
reports of the large force under his command. When 
Jackson was quite satisfied that the large army in front 
of him was fully occupied in making preparations for his 
reception, with the greatest secrecy he broke up camp, 
and the next news which the Federals in the lower Yalley 
heard of him was that he was down on the Chickahominy 
fighting McClellan. 



QUESTIONS roil EXAMINxVTION. 

1. Give a statement of the position of the armies in the middle of April. 

2. What change did Jackson then make ? 

3. Who did he leave to watch Banks ? 

4. What did Banks telegraph to Washington? 
6. What did Jackson do at McDowell ? 

6. What armies were threatening Richmond ? 

7. How did Jackson, in the Valley, relieve Richmond? 

8. How was the Massanutten Valley formed ? 

9. What two villages were at the entrance of these two valleys ? 

10. Where did Banks expect the advance of Jackson ? 

11. How did he advance, and with what result? 

12. Describe the retreat on Winchester. 

13. Describe the battle of Winchester. 

14. How were the Confederates received in Winchester? 

15. Describe the pursuit. What news came to Jackson while besieging 

Harper's Ferry ? 

16. Tell of his retreat. 

17. Where did he meet Fremont, and with what result? 

18. What made Jackson's retreat so difficult? 

19. Tell of the fight on the Port Republic road. 

20. Who was killed there, and what of him ? 

21. What point? of interest do you find in the situation of the three armies ? 

22. What narrow escape did Jackson make? 

23. Describe the surprise at Port Republic. Describe the battle of Cross 

Keys. 

24. Tell of the battle of Port Republic. 

25. Who captured Harrisonburg? 

26. How did Jackson contrive to keep the enemy busy while his soldiers 

rested ? 

27. Where did they bear of him next ? 

u 26* 



306 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

CHAPTEE XXXY. 
1862. — Continued. 

McCLELLAN AT YORKTOWN— THE " VIRGINIA"— YORKTOWN EVACU- 
ATED—BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG— THE WHITE HOUSE— BATTLE 
OF HANOVER COURT-HOUSE— BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES. 

McClellan's Movement. — We will now go back to that 
1st day of Aj^ril, 1862. When McClellan, in the government 
steamer" Commodore," which constituted his floating head- 
quarters, steamed down the Potomac on his way to York- 
town, be passed through long lines of transports, their decks 
rising one above another, and crowded with splendidly- 
uniformed soldiers. No wonder McClellan felt a pride in 
their appearance, and contrasting them with the undisci- 
plined rabble which ran from Manassas, felt that he had done 
good service in the organization of the Grand Army of the 
Potomac. Long lines of sailing-vessels had preceded them, 
laden with every comfort and luxury which an army in the 
field could possibly desire. At Fortress Monroe vast army 
stores, and guns of a size never made before, greeted his 
eyes. McClellan w^as very anxious to overcome and drive 
General Magruder from Yorktowm before General 'Johns- 
ton could reinforce him ; but he met with a difficulty at 
the very outset. 

The •* Merrimac" and the *' Monitor." — He had ex- 
pected a great deal of assistance from the navy, but it hap- 
pened that a short time before a curious-looking monster, 
not unlike a huge terrapin, had made its appearance in the 
midst of the United States \\ix\j. It was the ironclad Con- 
federate o-unboat " Yir^inia," better knowm as the " Merri- 
mac," as she was constructed out of the old United States 
vessel the " Merrimac," which had been sunk in the harbor 
when Norfolk was evacuated by the Federals. .The Con- 



HISTORY OF VIRGliMA. 307 

federates raised her, and Lieutenant John Brooke, a Vir- 
ginian, constructed out of her this steam-galley. He cut 
her down to the water's edge and covered her with heavy 
iron plating. She was armed with ten guns. It was on 
the 8th of March that she made her first appearance. She 
ran into two vessels and sunk both with about two hundred 
men. She created the greatest consternation. The heaviest 
shot bounded from her sides without injuring htr, and she 
retired triumphantly. The Confederates were overjoyed to 
believe that in their feebleness they had a war vessel with 
which the enemy could not cope. But this idea w^as of 
short duration ; for the very next day when she steamed 
out of Hampton Eoads she was met by the " Monitor," a 
Federal ironclad which had just arrived. It was not at all 




BATTLE BETWEEN THE " MERRIMAC AND " MONITOR. ' 

like the "Merrimac," and was armed with two one-hundred- 
and-sixty-eight-pounder Dahlgren guns. They had a famous 
battle, and both sides claimed the victory. But the " Mer- 
rimac" succeeded in inspiring the greatest dread of her 
appearance. The first sight of her was enough to clear 
the harbor of vessels, and she so eflPectually guarded the 



308 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA: 

entrance to the James Eiver that McClellan could have no 
assistance from the United States navy in his campaign 
against Richmond. 

Magruder defends Yorktown. — Johnston had no idea 
of holding the lines at Yorktown. His plan was to draw 
McClellan as far as he could from his base of supplies, and 
also to make his own lines as short as possible, as his army 
was so much smaller than McClellan's. But he was not 
ready yet to fall back ; so General Magruder, who was in 
command at Yorktown, fortified himself in a line extend- 
ing thirteen miles ; and as he had only eleven thousand 
men all told with whom to repel ninety thousand, you may 
imagine that there was not much chance for him even 
behind strong fortifications. But it was a fortunate cir- 
cumstance that McClellan thought he had a large army 
opposed to him, for he began to apply for reinforcements 
at once. Magruder was protected on the river side by 
strong batteries erected on both sides of the York, so that 
no vessel could pass. He knew that what he had to do was 
to continue a great show of preparations, and so make the 
enemy believe that he had a large army until Johnston 
should be ready for him to foil back. So when an attack 
was made on his fortifications at Lee's Mills, all the troops 
possible were concentrated there, and made so good a re- 
sistance that the Federal general- (Keyes) reported to 
General McClellan that the works could not be taken by 
assault. So General McClellan commenced throwing up 
intrenchments and laying siege to Yorktown as Washing- 
ton had done nearl}^ a hundred years before. 

Yorktown abandoned. — He continued to work hard, 
making roads and drawing closer every day to the besieged 
army, and was very confident that in a short time he w^ould 
capture the w^hole of them as Cornwallis had been captured. 
This went on until the 4th of May, when a dense smoke was 
seen rising from Yorktown, and the sentries reported that 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 309 

they saw no signs of any living being along the line of for- 
tifications. It was soon discovered that Magruder had re- 
treated in the night, and was as far as Williamsburg on his 
way to Richmond. McCIellan followed, and the next day 
there was a battle at Williamsburg; Magruder had been 
reinforced and inflicted a check upon the enemy, which en^ 
abled the Confederates to retreat to their new lines in safety, 
while the Federals halted at Williamsburg for a few days. 
Evacuation of Norfolk. — The Confederate army, when 
they drew back to Bichmond, were obliged to evacuate Xor- 




% 



/\U 



^'^^ 



GUNBOATS ON THE JAMI 



folk, as it was too far in front of their new lines to be de- 
fended, and in doing so it was thought necessary to blow 
up the ironclad " Merrimae," as she could not be taken up 
the James River. This was a great loss to the Confeder- 
ates, as it left the James undefended, and the Federal gun- 
boats at once ascended the river to a point about six miles 
from the city of Richmond. There they found their way 
barred by obstructions which were sunk in the channel, and 
by the guns of Fort Darling, at Drury's Bluff, which thun* 



310 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

dered out such a welcome that the gunboats found it best 
to retire out of their reach. 

The White House. — McClellan made West Point, at 
the junction of the Pamunkey and Mattapony Kivers, hia 
base of supplies, and be took for head quarters the White 
House, where General Washington had been married, and 
which now belonged to the wife of General Eobert E. Lee. 
When he entered the house he found on the table a letter 
from Mrs. Lee, w^ho liad stayed there as long as possible, 
begging that the Federal army would spare from destruc 
tion this house so full of historical interest to all Ameri- 
cans; and nobly did General McClellan respond to the 
appeal, for he placed a guard over everything and would 
not allow anything to be injured. For this act of courtesy 
he was much blamed by violent politicians at the ^orth, 
who thought that everything should be destroyed which 
came in the Avay of the army. The question was brought 
before Congress, and some of the members denounced 
McClellan as a traitor who desired the success of the Con- 
federates. 

The Situation at Richmond. — By the middle of May 
the two armies were concentrated around Eichmond. The 
Federal army was nearly twice as large as the Confederate ; 
but the Confederates had the great advantage of fighting 
on the inner circle. Indeed, McClellan felt that his force 
was insufficient and constantly applied for reinforcements, 
and especially urged that McDowell might advance from 
Fredericksburg and attack the cit}^ on that side. But 
Jackson was on his Vallej' campaign, and McDowell must 
remain where he was in order to cover Washington. 
McClellan was urged to advance with the army he had. 
Mr. Lincoln wrote that he must attack or " give up the job.'* 
So on the 27th of May he pushed forward to ILanover 
Court-House with eight thousand men and gained a vic- 
tory. The Federals then advanced to Ashland with a view 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 311 

of destroying the railroad ; this the Confederates tried to 
prevent, but were defeated with a loss of two hundred 
killed and seven hundred wounded. 

Battle of Seven Pines. — The Confederates held the 
line of the Chickahominy Eiver, over which there were a 
number of bridges, and it was in the neighborhood of one 
cf these crossings that the battle of Seven Pines, or Fair 
Oaks, was fought on the 31st of May and 1st of June. 
General Johnston being wounded very severely on the Slst, 
General Robert E. Lee took command in the field, and 
from this time we find him at the head of the armies in 
Virginia. Both sides claimed the victory in this battle, and 
both sides had reasons for the claim. The Confederates 
lost more heavily because they made the assaults on forti- 
fied positions, while the Federals had to retire from their 
position with heavy losses in guns, properly, and prisoners. 
Really it was a battle which, with great loss of life, accom- 
plished nothing. The result might have been very dif- 
ferent if McDowell could have advanced from Fredericks- 
burg and attacked Richmond from another point at the 
same time. But these two days of fighting were days of 
great dismay in Washington, as Banks had just been 
driven out of Winchester, and McDowell had to send a 
large part of his army to assist in capturing Jackson and 
so save Washington, which was deemed even more im- 
portant than taking Richmond. 

The Work of Pestilence. — After the two days' battles 
before Richmond both armies intrenched themselves; but 
there could not possibly have been a more unfortunate 
place for an encampment. Among half-buried dead and 
swamps teeming with corruption, drinking water filtered 
through graves, and breathing the tainted atmosphere of 
death, what wonder that an enemy arose more terrible than 
the artillery of war! Men died by thousands, and General 
McClellan had to call for more troops to fill the vacancies 



312 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

made by battle and pestilence. The Federal army suffered 
far more than the Confederates, who had Eiehmond behind 
them and who could thus escape from the pestilential 
vapors. On the 12th of June, General McClellan moved 
his head-quarters to Mechanicsville, through which a turn- 
pike road led into Richmond. 

Stuart's Daring Raid. — The very day after this move, 
General J. E. B. Stuart, with Colonel Fitzhugh Lee. a 
nephew of General E. E. Lee, afterwards Governor of Yir- 
ginia, and Colonel W. II. F. Lee, a son of the general, with 
twelve hundred cavalry and two guns, started on a raid 
around the Federal army. Everything was done with the 
greatest secrecj^, as ignorance of their movements by the 
enemy was the only thing which made success possible. No 
trumpets were sounded, and even talking was done in 
whispers. At Hanover Court-House they met and routed 
the Fifth Cavalry, U.S.A. They then pursued their course 
to a point on the Pamunkey River, where the}^ burned a 
quantity of Federal vessels and stores. They next pushed 
forward to the White House, captured a train of forty 
wagons, and burned a railroad bridge ; then off they dashed 
to New Kent Court-House, where they refreshed them- 
selves from the abundant sutlers' stores of the Federal 
army, and then turned their faces homeward, and reached 
Richmond, after an absence of two days, with one hundred 
and sixty-five prisoners, two hundred horses and mules, 
and a long wagon-train of stores, besides having destroyed 
an immense amount of Federal property, and with the loss 
of only one man, the brave Captain Latane, of Virginia. 

The raid was successful in another particular. Stuart 
had found out the exact position of the enemy, and reported 
a weak point at Cold Harbor where he was certain an im- 
portant blow could be struck the Federal army. This de- 
cided General Lee to send at once to Jackson to operate at 
that point while he struck in front. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 313 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. Describe McClellan's start from Washington. 

2. What did he find at Fortress Monroe? 

3. Why could not McClellan use the navy? 

4. Describe the '' Virginia," or " Merrimac." 

5. What effect did her appearance have? 

6. What was the name of the Federal ironclad? 

7. Tell of the fight between them. 

8. Did Johnston intend holding the Yorktown line? 

9. Describe Magruder's position. 

10. W'ho had besieged Yorktown before? 

11. How did McClellan's siege of Yorktown end? 

12. Who gained the battle of Williamsburg, and what was the result? 

13. What caused the loss of the " Merrimac" ? 

14. Why did not the Federal gunboats reach Richmond? 

15. After leaving Williamsburg where did McClellan make his head- 

quarters ? 

16. Relate the incident. 

17. Did McClellan protect the place? 

18. How was his actinn regarded at the North? 

19. Describe the situation j^round Richmond. 

20. Why did McClellan delay his advance? 

21. Who gained the victory at Hanover Court-House? 

22. What line of battle did the Confederates hold ? 

23. When was the battle of Seven Pines fought? 

24. Who was placed in command of the Confederates, and why?' 

25. What was the issue of the battle ? 

26. Wliy did not McDowell advance? 

27. What dreadful enemy attacked McClellan in his camp? 

28. AVhat expedition did Stuart undertake? 

29. Who went with him ? 

30. What success did they meet with? 
31 Whom did Lee send for, and why? 



314 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



CH,APTEE XXXVL 
1862. — Continued. 

BATTLES BEFORE RICHMOND — McCLELLANS CHANGE OF BASE — 
POPE'S CAMPAIGN. 

Positions of the Armies. — About the end of June a 
rumor reached McClellan that Jackson was at Gordonsville 
and was preparing to attack his rear. He telegraphed the 
rumor to the authorities at Washington, and received for 
repl}^ that no one in the 'Shenandoah Yalle}^ or out of it 
could form any idea of Avhat Jackson was doing or going 
to do. But McClellan was vight, for Jackson was on his 
w^ay to take the part assigned to him in the great seven 
days' fight before Richmond, which part was to strike 
McClellan in the rear, at Cold Harbor. It is not my plan 
to give all of the details of the battles, only the results. 
But to make you understand this great struggle I must, in 
as few words as possible, state the respective locations of 
the two armies at this time. The Confederate army was 
on the south side of the Chickahominy River and the Fed- 
eral on both sides, having extensive fortifications where 
the battle of Seven Pines had been fought. On the north 
side of the river the Federals had fortifications at Beaver 
Dam Creek, and just behind these was Cold Harbor. The 
strongest works were on the Mechanicsville road, on the 
north side of the river. General Lee determined to force 
these works, and sent General A. P. Hill to cross the 
river at Meadow Bridge, some distance above, and attack 
the works there and at Be«ver Dam, while at the same 
time Jackson was to go to ^hc rear of the army at Cold 
Harbor, and Generals D. H. Hiii and Longstreet were to 
cross the Mechanicsville bridge as soon as General A. P. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 315 

Hill had uncovered it,— Longstreet joining A. P. Hill and 
D. H. Hill joining Jackson. 

The Seven Days' F^ght begins.— At three o'clock 
on the 26th of June, A. P. Hill crossed the river, and after 
a severe fight drove the enemy from his intrenchments at 
Mechanicsvi-lle and forced him to take refuge in his works 
on Beaver Dam Creek, about a mile distant. Then Hill 
and Longstreet crossed the Mechanicsville bridge and at- 
tacked these works. Night fell before anything was ac- 
complished. At daybreak the fight was resumed, D. H. 
Hill joining Jackson in an attack on the rear at Cold 
Harbor. After terrible fighting the Federals abandoned 
their works and retreated ; then a general advance was 
made, and the Federals gave way all along the line. 
Their cavalry tried to stop the flight, but in vain. The 
tw^o armies were now in a strange position. Lee in cross- 
ing to the rear of McClellan left him nearer to Eichmond 
than he himself was. But he knew that McClellan would 
not cut himself off from his supplies, for if he should take 
the city he could not hold it. In fact, McClellan's sole 
idea was to change his base to the James Eiver, where 
he could supply his army without difliculty. But this 
was not an easy matter to accomplish with Lee's victo^ 
rious army ready to strike him at every move. On the 
28th, General Stuart was sent to the White House to de- 
stroy the enemy's stores. He found that the work had 
been accomplished by themselves, and as he dashed up 
he saw^ the house which was the scene of \yashington's 
marriage burning to the ground. 

McClellan's Retreat.— During the afternoon of the 
29th, General McClellan commenced his retreat, leaving 
behind vast amounts of stores and many pieces of heavy 
artillery. He halted for the night about half-way be- 
tw^een his former camp and his destination on the James 
Eiver. His baggage and field-pieces had passed Whito 



316 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Oak Station, and so far the retreat had been successful. 
In the mean time Longstreet had crossed the Chickahom- 
iny, while Magruder, Huger, and McLaws were advan- 
cing from Eichmond. They encountered a division of the 
Federal army at Savage's Station, on the Williamsburg 
road. The Confederates had with them a battery pro- 
pelled by steam, which they called the '-Eailway ^lerri- 
mac." It was coated with iron, and as it moved poured 
shot and shell into the Federal lines. jS[ight closed in be- 
fore any advantage was gained by either side. During 
the night Jackson's command crossed the river and ad- 
vanced to Savage's Station. The fight raged fiercely all 
the next day, and in the darkness of the night the Fed- 
erals retired, abandoning their pontoon-train and most of 
their guns. 

The Federal army crossed White Oak Swamp and 
were comparatively safe, as they destroyed the bridge 
behind them. Jackson came up with them there, but 
could not get over the stream. He planted his artillery 
and kept up a steady cannonade. While this was going 
on Longstreet and A. P. Hill were fighting the battle 
known as Frazier's Farm. — a fierce and bloody conflict, in 
which both armies lost heavily. While the Confederates 
-can be said in one sense to have gained another victory, 
yet they were defeated in their attempt to prevent the 
further retreat of McClellan's army. The Federals fought 
desperately^, and held their ground till night, when they 
resumed their retreat to the James Eiver. 

The pursuit was continued on the Isi of July, and 
here, but for an error on the part of the Confederates, Mc- 
Clellan's army would have been utterly destroyed. Strange 
as it may seem, the Confederates had no maps of the country, 
and had to depend upon what information they could glean 
about roads and routes from the country people. They made 
a mistake about the route that McClellan was taking to gain 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 317 

hi8 new base, and while they were waiting to intercept him 
at one point be succeeded in gaining the commanding height 
known as Malvern Hill ; General Casey (Federal) said in his 
report, "Had the enemy come down and occupied those 
heights they would have captured our whole army." 

The battle of Malvern Hill was fought on the 1st of 
July. The Confederates failed to drive the enemy from 
their position, and after fearful carnage were obliged to 
retire. McClellan had reached his new base with the loss 
of a large part of his army. Another " on to Eichmond" 
had failed, and the Federal army was completely demoral- 
ized by the fearful sufferings and losses it had endured. 
It had fought its way for the distance of thirty miles 
in the face of a victorious enem}^, and had left its dead 
and wounded at every step. 

General Pope's Manifesto. — After the events just re- 
lated there was a complete change made in the organiza- 
tion of the Federal forces. While McClellan was retained 
as commander of the Grand Army of the Potomac on the 
James Eiver, General Pope was appointed to the com- 
mand of the Army of Virginia, which included all the 
forces in the State except those under McClellan. Gen- 
eral Pope did not approve of McClellan' s course in pro- 
tecting property in the country through which he passed, 
but issued an order that his army was to subsist on the 
country. He also said that he thought there was quite too 
much talk about lines of retreat and officers' head-quarters ; 
that " his head-quarters would be in his saddle," and that 
he did not intend to have any lines of retreat : that they 
were to go forward all the time and only see the backs of 
their enemies. These were brave words ; let us see if his 
actions corresponded with them. 

A New Campaign. — Pope chose the same route " on to 
Richmond" that McDowell had chosen in the beginning of 
the war, by Manassas and the Orange and Alexandria Eail* 

27*. 



318 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

road to Gordonsville. His line extended from Gordonsville 
to Fredericksburg, where McDowell w^as slill in command, 
and back to Manassas, where he had an immense depot of 
army stores. The first battle of this campaign was be- 
tween Jackson and his old adversary General Banks, at a 
place called Cedar Mountain. In this engagement Banks 
was defeated with heavy loss. If you will look on the 
map you will see that the Confederates still had the ad- 
vantage of fighting on the inner lines within reach of each 
other, while McClellan, in order to join his forces with 
those of Pope, would have been obliged to go back to 
Washington and thence a hundred miles before he ef- 
fected his object. But after the battle of Cedar Mountain, 
McClellan was ordered to join Pope by this roundabout 
route ; so on the 17th of August, with the fragment of 
the splendid army which had left Washington four months 
before, he returned to Washington, having accomplished 
nothing by the exjDedition, except the barren occupation 
of the Peninsula; and even that had been given up to 
him by a successful strategy. 

Lee's Advance. — As soon as General McClellan with- 
drew his army from before Eichmond, General Lee was at 
liberty to join the army which was facing Pope. When Pope 
found that out, he decided that he had better think about 
his ** lines of retreat ;" so he fell back to the Eappahannock 
River, and while doing so his army, in obedience to his order 
to subsist on the country, committed such dreadful depreda- 
tions, that in order to prevent their demoralization he had to 
interfere and explain that he did not intend all that he said. 

Stuart's Dash. — Now took place one of those strategic 
movements for which Jackson was so celebrated ; for w^hile 
Lee followed Pope to the Rappahannock, and by advancing 
every day and pretending to be trying to cross the river so 
occupied that general that he had no time to look elsewhere, 
Jackson and Stuart were off on an expedition to the rear of 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 319 

his army. Jackson made one of his rapid marches through 
the mountains on the right flank of Pope's army, while 
Stuart with a small body of cavalry rej^eated his former 
exploit of dashing to the rear, and on the night of the 
22d of August galloped into Catlett's Station, where Pope 
had his head-quarters. The guard was completely surprised ; 
tlie horses and baggage were captured and the wagons 
burned. Among other articles, a military coat belonging 
to General Pope was captured and sent to Richmond, 
where it was displayed with a label attached, on which 
was written, '• Mistaken : never expected to see anything 
but the backs of his enemies." 

This incident carries with it a valuable lesson against 
boasting. The Bible says, " Let not him that girdeth on his 
harness boast himself as he that putteth it ofl"." Pope will 
always be held up in historj^ as a man of big words and 
small deeds, though no doubt he was a brave man and a 
good soldier. He had now been joined by McClellan's 
army and was sending flaming despatches to Washington 
of his great successes in driving Lee back on the Eappa- 
hannock, when news reached him that Stuart had burned a 
wagon-train on its way to his army, and next that the great 
depot of stores at Manassas had been captured and burned. 
But still he thought it was only a cavalry raid, and the 
Northern papers spoke of it as " bold, desperate, unparal- 
leled in the history of the war ;" but they knew it was no 
mere raid when they learned that the dreaded Jackson had 
passed through Thoroughfare Gap with his whole division, 
and that the Federal army was between Lee in the front and 
Jackson in the rear. Jackson's men, who had been living on 
parched corn in their rapid march, were permitted to refresh 
themselves from the captured stores. Only a hungry soldier 
can appreciate how they enjoyed it. They destroyed all that 
they could not use and also burned the telegraph station and 
cut the Federal army's communications with Washington. 



320 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Jackson's Position. — It is true that General Jackson 
was in a most critical position; but, fortunately for l.im, 
the enemy were so dismayed by the surprise that they 
were in no condition to take advantage of the opportunity. 
General Jackson took up his position on Bull Eun not far 
from where the battle was fought the preceding year. He 
had with him three Virginia generals, — Ewell, Taliaferro, 
and A. P. Hill. He knew that Pope had changed his base 
to Warrenton, and that General Lee would soon join him ; 
so he planted himself on the old field of victor}^ and deter- 
mined to defend himself until he was reinforced. He did 
not have to wait long, for Longstreet's corps was nearing 
Thoroughfare Gap on its way ta him. Pope suspected 
this and ordered an advance against Jackson, whose defeat 
was absolutely necessary, and as soon as possible. They 
fought on the old battle-field on the 28th, and although the 
loss to Jackson's army was heavy, including both Generals 
Ewell and Taliaferro, who were severely wounded, yet it 
was a decided victory for the Confederates. 

The Second Battle of Manassas. — When news came 
to Jackson that Longstreet's corps was close at hand he 
knew that the cause so dear to his heart had secured an- 
other victory; and soon the clouds of dust in the direction 
of the mountain gap told Pope a truth which filled him 
with despair, for Lee had joined forces with Jackson. 
The next day the great battle of Second Manassas was 
fought. The woods and mountains which had witnessed 
the great victory thirteen months before echoed to the 
Confederates' shouts of victory once again. It was not 
until after a long day's struggle that General Lee, looking 
anxiously towards the Federal lines, saw the confusion and 
dismay he had so long waited for and ordered a general ad- 
vance. It was the signal for another panic-stricken flight 
over the same old route. General Lee is said to have pa- 
rolled seven thousand prisoners on the battle-field ; and the 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 321 

once brilliant army with their confident commander re- 
treated behind the intrenchments at Centreville. The 
next day (September 1) General D. H. Hill threatened the 
dii-ect road to Washington. Pope, who could not accept 
battle on account of the demoralization of his army, com- 
menced a retreat. A severe storm was in progress and Hill 
was assaulting him; but night closed in, and the defeated 
army was glad to take refuge behind the fortifications at 
Washington. In the greatest dismay, President Lincoln 
begged McClellan to take command and defend Washington. 
Once more the " on to Eichmond" was changed to an " on 
to Washington" by the gallant sons of the South. 



QUESTIONS FOH EXAMINATION. 

1. What report reached MeClellan. tir.d^ -.vhat did he do ? 

2. What movements were made by the Confederates ? 

3. Where was Jackson to strike? 

4. What was the position of the two armies after the fight at Mechanica- 

ville? 

5. What did McClellan determine to do? 

6. Give an account of the retreat. 

7. When was the battle of Malvern Hill fought, and with what result? 

8. What change was made in the Federal army after the fights arouiwj 

Richmond? 

9. What orders did General Pope issue to his army ? 

10. Describe the position of his army. 

11. Describe the battle of Cedar Mountain. 

12. What advantage of position did the Confederates have? 

13. What orders did McClellan receive? 

14. What had been the result of his Peninsula campaign? 

15. When McClellan left the James where did Lee go ? 

16. What move did Pope make? 

17. What strategic movement did Lee make? 

18. Describe Stuart's expedition. 

19. What lesson does Pope's career teach us? 

20. Describe Jackson's movements. 

21. Where did the armies meet? 

22. What was the situation of the two armies If 

23. Describe the first fight. 



322 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

24. Who joined Jackson ? 

25. Describe the second day's fight. 

26. To what point did Pope retreat? 

27. What happened the next day ? 

28. What did President Lincoln do? 



CHAPTEE XXXYir. 
1862. — Continued. 

THE FIRST MARYLAND CAMPAIGN— BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 

Inaction. — For a short time after these events both 
armies remained inactive. They were too much exhausted 
to attempt any forward movement. General Lee was urge« 
to advance into the Northern States. He hesitated abouc 
this, because he knew the great danger of going so far from 
his base in the face of an army so much larger than hi? 
own. At the same time he saw, as did many other wise 
men at the South, that while our men had fought nobly 
and gained many victories, it was at the expense of many 
valuable lives. In each battle scores of gallant men were 
kilK'd, the army was getting smaller every day, and there 
was no source from which to draw fresh men, while the 
North had plenty of men, and besides, could, and did, fill 
up their ranks with foreigners. There was another rea- 
son. All of the white men in the South being in the army, 
there was no one to work the ground, and it was be- 
coming, more and more difficult to supply food for the 
armies in the field and for the women and children at 
home. In Virginia the fair fields were laid waste. If the 
army could be transferred to Pennsylvania for a while, it 
might relieve Virginia and show the Northern people what 
war really was. It was also hoped that if the Southern 
army went into Maryland many would join it from that 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 323 

State. Urged by these considerations, General Lee de- 
termined to cross into Maryland. 

The Advance into Maryland. — The time to make the 
attempt was certainly the present, as the Federal army 
had never been so demoralized as after Pope's disaster, and 
it was hoped that personal experience of war would induce 
the Northern people to think of peace. Accordingly on the 
5th day of September, General Lee crossed the Potomac, 
and the day after a portion of the army under Jackson 
entered Frederick City. The army was in fine spirits. 
The Maryland boys who had been away from their homes 
so long believed that they were going back again, and all 
rejoiced at the exchange of the ruin and desolation of poor 
Yirginia for the plenty and beauty of Maryland. The 
soldiers marched to the tunc of " Maryland, my Maryland," 
but they were doomed to disappointment in the hope that 
the army would be recruited by Marylanders. The first 
enthusiasm was over, and although they found many 
friendly to the cause, yet the appearance of the poor 
ragged Confederates after a toilsome march did not offer 
much temptation to them to leave their comfortable homes 
even for military glory. If General Lee could have gone 
to Baltimore it might have been different, as that city was 
always a stronghold of Southern sentiment. 

At Harper's Ferry there was a Federal force of eleven 
thousand men, and as this was in the rear of General Lee's 
army, he decided that before farther advance it was neces- 
8ax"y to capture or destroy it, and General Jackson's corps 
was chosen for the duty. He crossed into Virginia, cap- 
turing a quantity of stores at Martinsburg. He then pro- 
ceeded to Harper's Ferry, and with Longstreet on the 
Maryland shore and his command on the Yirginia side 
they invested the place and forced the whole army to sur- 
render. As soon as it was known in Washington that 
Harper's Ferry was in danger, McClellan started out from 



324 HISTORY OF VIRGIN J A. 

that city with one hundred thousand men to relieve the 
garrison. General McCIellan gives an incident which con- 
tains a lesson for all. On the march towards Harper's 
Ferry one of his soldiers picked up a letter from General 
Lee to General Hill giving him his entire plan of opera- 
tion that there might be no confusion. This letter must 
have been carelessly dropped or lost (General Hill says he 
never received it), and thus fell into McClellan's hands and 
put him in possession of the key to the movements of his 
adversary, which was information of the greatest value to 
him. When Lee found that McCIellan was marching to 
the relief of Harper's Ferry he placed his army so as to 
cover the place, and before a blow could be struck by 
McCIellan the garrison surrendered to General Jackson. 
There were taken ten thousand men, seventy-five pieces of 
artillery, and thirteen thousand stand of small-arms, be- 
sides valuable stores. But there was only a short time to 
rejoice over these treasures, as the guns of McCIellan were 
booming, and Jackson must go to the help of General Lee. 
An English Opinion. — There was a lieutenant of the 
British army in this country at this time who was much in 
both camps and has written a book of the war, from which 
I have gathered many of the facts which I have narrated 
in these latter pages. This lieutenant (Fletcher) says, " As 
men reached Baltimore and \Yashington and New York 
from the places occupied by the Confederates, they as- 
tonished their hearers with accounts of the discipline 
maintained among these ragged and shoeless soldiers. 
They had seen men who had long fed on the roughest and 
most scant ftire enter towns and refrain not onl}^ from 
pillage, but even from the harshness of authority common 
to soldiers. They had beheld the gentlemen of the South 
changed indeed in outward appearance, — the officer as 
poorly clad as the men, — yet retaining their courtesy and re- 
finement, and combining deep-seated hatred of the Northern 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 325 

nation with kindness and forbearance towards individuals 
composing it. It was not without mixed feelings that the 
better classes at the North heard of the exploits of their 
former fellow-countrymen. They could not but admire the 
military qualities and personal character of their leaders ; 
and although bitterly ashamed that their own well-equipped 
troops had been beaten by men who possessed few of their 
advantages, yet they received comfort from the fact that 
the3^ were Americans. Even if a portion of the Demo- 
cratic party could scarcely help feeling that union under 
President Davis and General Lee would be better than 
discord under President Lincoln, who can blame them?" 

The Battle of Sharpsburg. — While Jackson was com- 
pleting his work at Harper's Ferry, General Lee was fight- 
ing McClellan at the passes in the mountains which led 
to that place. It was one of those battles in which it 
was impossible to say who gained a victory. It may better 
be called a drawn battle, since at the end of the day 
McClellan had gained the passages which Lee held until 
the capture of Harper's Ferry was accomplished. Jackson 
made all haste to join Lee, and on the 17th of September 
the battle of Antietam, or Sharpsburg, was fought. The 
conflict raged fiercely all day, and night closed with the 
balance of success for the Confederates. The next day the 
Confederates waited for an attack, but none being made, 
General Lee, convinced that the gain of taking his army 
into the enemy's country was not equal to the risk of 
fighting a force more than double his own so far from his 
base of supplies, returned to Virginia. He established his 
army at Martinsburg and Shepherdstown, where they en- 
joyed for a brief period the rest they so greatly needed. 

As a summing up. of the results of this campaign I 
cannot do better than to insert General Lee's address to 
bis troops a few days after its termination, October 2, 
1862: 

28 



326 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

" In reviewing the achievements of the army during the present 
campaign, the commanding general cannot withhold the expression 
of his admiration of the indomitable courage it has displayed in 
battle and the cheerful endurance of privation and hardships on 
the march. 

" Since your great victories around Richmond, you have defeated 
the enemy at Cedar Mountain, expelled him from the Rappahannock, 
and after a conflict of three days utterly repulsed him on the plains 
of Manassas and forced him to take shelter within the fortifications 
around his capital. Without halting for repose you crossed the Poto- 
mac, stormed the heights of Harper's Ferry, made prisoners of more 
than eleven thousand six hundred men, and captured upward of 
seventy pieces of artillery, all their small-arms and other munitions 
of war. While one corps of the army was thus engaged, the other 
insured its success by arresting at Boonsboro' the combined armies 
of the enemy, advancing under their favorite general to the relief 
of their beleaguered comrades. 

" On the field of Sharpsburg, with less than one-third his numbers, 
you resisted from daylight until dark the whole army of the enemy, 
and repulsed every attack along his entire front of more than four 
miles in extent. 

"The whole of the following day you stood ready to resume the 
conflict on the same ground, and retired next morning without 
molestation across the Potomac. 

" Two attempts subsequently made by the enemy to follow you 
across the river have resulted in his complete discomfiture and his 
being driven back with loss. Achievements such as these demanded 
much valor and patriotism. History records few examples of 
greater fortitude and endurance than this army has exhibited, and 
I am conunissioned by the President to thank you in the name of 
the Confederate States for the undying fame you have won for their 
arms. 

'• Much as you have done, much more remains to be accomplished. 
The enemy again threatens us with invasion, and to your tried 
valor and patriotism the country looks with confidence for deliv- 
erance and safety. Your past exploits give assurance that this 
confidence is not misplaced. 

" R. E. Lee, 
" General Commanding.'''' 



HISTORV OF VIRGINIA. 327 

The inactivity of General McClellan permitted Gen- 
eral Lee to rest his soldiers in camp near Winchester for 
several watks, and General Stuart (J. E. B.) improved the 
time by making a swoop into Pennsylvania, where he 
captured a thousand horses, made a circuit of the entire 
Federal army, and returned with the loss of only three 
missing and three wounde'd. 

While occupying this camp several distinguished British 
officers visited General Lee, among them General Garnet 
Wolseley, who has written a most interesting account of 
his visit. He says, "Every possible injury that it was 
possible to inflict the Northerners have heaped upon him 
(Lee). Notwithstanding this, in speaking of them he neither 
evinced any bitterness of feeling nor gave utterance to 
a single violent expression, but alluded to many of his 
former friends and companions among them in the kind- 
est terms. He spoke as a man proud of the victories won 
by his country and confident of ultimate success under the 
blessing of the Almighty, whom he glorified for past suc- 
cesses, and whose aid he invoked for all future operations." 

General Long, in his life of General Lee. dwells upon 
this merry camp in the Yalley of Virginia. He says such was 
the enthusiasm of the soldiers for their general that " his 
appearance was always greeted with the well-known Con- 
federate yell, which called forth in other quarters the ex- 
clamation, 'There goes Mars Eobert, Ole Jackson, or an 
ole hare.' " * 

McClellan Relieved.— General McClellan meantime 
entered Virginia, and had advanced as far as Warrenton 
on the often-travelled road to Richmond when to his 
amazement he received an order from Washington re- 
lieving him of his command and appointing General Burn- 
side in his place. This was, as many believed, due to po- 

* "Memoirs of Robert E. Lee," by General A. L. Long. 



328 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

litieal reasons, McClellan being a Democrat. As his army- 
was devoted to him and the elections were approaching, it 
was feared that he would use his popularity to gain votes 
for his party. General Lee regarded General McClellan 
as the ablest general in the Federal army. 

The March on Fredericksburg. — General Burnside 
chose his "on to Eichmond' by the way of Fredericks- 
burg, and flattered himself that he had the start of Lee in 
the race. But General Lee knew what he" was about, and 
when the Federal army, with Burnside at its head, arrived 
at Falmouth, which is across the Eappahannock Eiver from 
Fredericksburg, lo! there was Longstreet behind his bat- 
teries at Fredericksburg ready and waiting for him; so 
nothing remained for him to do but to concentrate his 
army at Falmouth and drive the Confederates out of his 
path. While he was getting ready for this, Lee, Jackson, 
and all the rest of the army reached Fredericksburg, and 
there from the summit of the. Virginia hills looked down 
upon the invaders of her soil, like the sand upon the sea- 
shore in number. 

The Battle of Fredericksburg. — Burnside well knew 
that if he did not accomplish something speedily his reign 
would be short. He had over one hundred thousand meu 
and Lee about sixty thousand;* but Lee had greatl}^ the 
advantage of position, as he occupied the heights back of 
Fredericksburg, and to make the attack Burnside must 
cross and storm the heights. Fredericksburg being di- 
rectly betw^een the two armies, the citizens knew that it 
must suffer from the impending battle, and the w^omen and 
children left their homes for places of safety. Lee's army 
rested with its right on the Massaponax Eiver, five miles 
below Fredericksburg. There General J. E. B. Stuart was 
posted, and General Jackson was next to him. A. P. Hill 

* " Memoirs of Robert E. Lee," by General A. L. Long. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 329 

and Longstreet were on the left, and the artillery was so 
placed that it could sweep the front. On the 11th of De- 
cember the Federal army commenced to cross the river on 
their pontoon bridges. The Confederates opened fire on 
them, upon which Burnside gave the order to muss his ar- 
tillery on the city, and it was done with great vigor for 
two hours, and when the mists of smoke lifted from the 
devoted little city it looked a perfect ruin. Many of the 
houses were in flames and others battered dowm, and after 
all it accomplished uothing, since the Confederates held 
their position unchanged. 

The Assault and Repulse. — Matters remained thus 
until the 13th, which dawned bright and warm, and with 
the dawn Burnside crossed the river under cover of a 
heavy fog. Soon all parts of the tw^o armies were en- 
gaged. In vain the Federal hosts pressed forward and 
tried to storm the heights. At every point they were 
driven back with dreadful slaughter, and night closed with 
another overwhelming victory for the Southern army. 
Lee expected the battle to be renewed the next day. 
Burnside had utterly failed, and during the night of the 
15th withdrew his troops across the river. He lost thirteen 
thousand seven hundred and seventy-one soldiers. Lee 
lost one thousand eight hundred. Thus ended Burnside's 
" on to Richmond." 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1 What followed the second battle of Manassas ? 

2. What course was urged upon General Lee, and why did he hesitate 

about it? 

3. Tell of the advance into Maryland. 

4. How were they received ? 

5. Where was Jackson sent? 

6. What army was sent to the relief of Harper's Ferry? 

7. How did McClellan learn of Lee's plans? 

8. How did the Confederates conduct themselves in Maryland? 

28* 



330 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

9. What was the result of the first fight between Lee and McClellan ? 

10. Tell of the battle of Sharp^burg. 

11. To what point did Lee retire after the battle? 

12. Tell of his address to the army. 

13. Who visited Lee, and what account did he give? 

14. Where did MeClellan go? 

15. What interfered with his progress? 

16. Who gu[ierseded him? 

17. What was General Lee's opinion of General MeClellan? 

18. What road did Burnside try to Richmond? 

19. What stopped him ? Describe the situation of the two armies. 

20. What ruthless order did Burnside give? 

21. Describe the battle of Fredericksburg. 

22. What was the result and the loss on both sides? 

23. What year of the war closed with this battle? 



CHAPTER XXXYIIL 
1863. 

HOOKER SUPERSEDES BURNSIDE— BATTLES OF CHANCELLORSVILLE 
AND THE WILDERNESS- JACKSON'S FALL— ADVANCE INTO MARY- 
LAND AND PENNSYLVANIA— MEADE SUPERSEDES HOOKER— BAT- 
TLE OF GETTYSBURG— RETREAT OF THE CONFEDERATES TO THE 
RAPPAHANNOCK. 

General Hooker was appointed to supersede Burnside. 
He chose the road to Eichmond, with some variations, 
which had heen so fatal to three of his predecessors. The 
winter of 1862-63 was a very wet one and an advance on 
either side was impossible ; so both armies went into camp 
and looked at €ach other over the mud hills of Spottsyl- 
vania. With the exception of cavalry raids, no fighting 
was done. But with the openinc: of spring General Hooker 
began his preparations to take Richmond, with the great- 
est confidence in his success. And really it did seem as 
if the Federals must succeed this time. Hooker had over 
one hundred thousand men, and in addition Richmond wa8 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 331 

threatened by armies from the soulhern department. Gen- 
eral Lee had to send Longstreet with one-third of his army 
to meet this advance from the south, leaving him with 
only forty thousand men. On the 27th of April, Hooker 
commenced his march, his advance being made in three 
columns, each one nearly as large as General Lee's whole 
army. So confident was Hooker of success that he issued 
a congratulatory order to his troojDS in w^hich he told them 
that " the rebel army is the legitimate property of the 
Grand Army of the Potomac." But he found his claim 
disputed when he came to take possession. 

The Battle of Chancellorsville. — The scene of the 
battle of Chancellorsville lay in an angle made by the un- 
finished line of a railroad and the Eappahannock and Eapi- 
dan Rivers. On the 27th of April three corps of the Fed- 
eral army crossed the Eappahannock at Kelly's Ford, 
twenty-five miles from Fredericksburg, while three corps 
at the same time crossed the river at a point three miles 
below the city. They met with no opposition. Only a few 
Confederate scouts watched them and galloped away. On 
the 1st day of May, General Hooker had massed his entire 
army at Chancellorsville, ten miles from Fredericksburg. LTp 
to this time General Lee had been uncertain from what point 
an attack would be made ; but now that there was no doubt 
he moved his army so as to confront the enemy. It must 
have been a time of terrible anxiety. But General Lee was 
calm and composed; and the soldiers trusted so fully in 
their leaders that they believed that under them they 
would overcome their foe though numbering three to one. 
General Hooker, on his side, was equally confident. 

Jackson's Flank Movement. — As usual, Jackson was 
chosen for a dashing flank movement to Hooker's right and 
rear. Silently and quickly he led his men around the Fed- 
eral lines, and reached the desired point on the right with- 
out the enemy having the least suspicion of the movement, 



332 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



all of the enemy's attention being fixed upon the army in 
front of him, the numbers of which he imagined to be 
many times as great as they really were. During the 
whole war there w^as no more daring piece of strategy 




CONFERENCE OF LEE AND JACKSON AT CHANCELLOBSVILLE. 

than this. In the face of an enemy three times as large 
as his own, and with a force threatening his rear, Lee 
dared to send away his ablest general with the largest 
part of his army to strike a blow in the rear of the un* 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 333 

suspecting foe. On the morning of May 2 the booming 
of Jackson's guns announced that his part of the plan was 
accomplished. He fell suddenly on Howard's corps, which 
was camping with no preparation for an attack. Jackson's 
men rushed tbrward with a yell, and the Federals, completely 
surprised, fell back in the greatest confusion. Nearly the 
whole army corps fled in dismay towards the Chancellors- 
ville House. In vain Hooker and Howard in person tried to 
check them. The very name of Jackson struck them with 
terror. It was not until reinforcements arrived, and the ar- 
tillery commenced their firing, that the flight was checked. 

A Fatal Loss.— Then occurred that terrible catastrophe 
which plunged the whole South into mourning and from 
which the Confederate cause never recovered. General 
Jackson with his staff rode forward in the dusk of evening 
to reconnoitre. A portion of the army had been placed on 
a road where an advance of the enemy was expected, and 
orders were issued that they were to fire at any body of 
cavalry which appeared from a certain direction. Then, 
heart-rending to relate, as Jackson and his staff returned 
they were mistaken for the enemy, and a volley was 
poured into the party, and the brave soldier who had so 
often led his troops to victory fell pierced by the men 
who would have given their lives for him. Almost at the 
same moment the Federal forces advanced, and the fight- 
ing over the wounded soldier was so heavy that for a time 
it was impossible to take him from the field, and he was 
struck twice as he lay on the ground. At last they suc- 
ceeded in getting him to a place of safety, where, after a 
week of suffering, he died. 

Lee and Jackson. — The battles of the Wilderness and 
of Chancellorsville lasted five days, recording a series of 
victories for the Confederates. Hooker seems to have 
been stunned by accumulated defeats. After the first at- 
tack he seemed bewildered, while General Lee in person, 



334 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

calm amidsl his victories, led his men on to new conquests. 
But his heart was heavy over the loss of Jackson. He wrote 
to him while he lay wounded, "Could 1 have directed 
events 1 should have chosen for the good of the countrj^ 
to have been disabled in your stead. I congratulate you 
on the victory, which is due to your skill and energy." 
Jackson said when he read it, " General Lee should give 
the glory to God." On the next morning Stuart led Jack- 
son's men to the fight with the battle-cry, " Eemember 
Jackson !" 

Sedgwick repulsed. — Hooker had left Sedgwick with 
twenty-two thousand men on the heights opj^osite Freder- 
icksburg, intending with this force to close in on General 
Lee's rear. General Early with eight thousand men had 
been left by Lee in the vicinity of Fredericksburg to watch 
and keep back Sedgwick. After the disaster created by 
Jackson's flank movement and impetuous assault, Hooker 
made every effort to hurry Sedgwick to his assistance; 
but althouo^H Sedc^wick crossed "the river in the effort to 
reach Hooker, the vigilant Early held him in check until, 
with the CO operation of two divisions sent down from Chan- 
cellorsville on the 4th, he drove him across the Rappahan- 
nock at Banks's Ford, four miles above Fredericksburg. 
Lee having thus disposed of Sedgwick, prepared to renew 
his assault upon Hooker. But on the evening of the 5th 
of May a mighty thunder-storm broke over the two armies, 
and the thunder of nature made feeble the thunder of the 
artiller3\ A deluge of rain swelled the river and threat- 
ened the only retreat open to the Federal army. General 
Hooker, in the midst of the tempest, ordered a retreat over 
the United States Ford, and by the morning of the 6th 
all of the army were at Falmouth in their old camps. 

Thus another " on to Richmond" had come to a dis- 
astrous end, but. as usual, the Federal general issued a con- 
gratulatory order to his army, and the President and Sec- 



HISTORF OF VIRGINIA. 335 

retary of War issued one to the people, assuring them that 
it was no disaster, only a failure ; but the stubborn facts 
were a contradiction to this assertion. 

In the Shenandoah Valley. — For several weeks after 
these battles the two armies watched each other from the 
opposite sides of the river; but in the month of June the 
Confederate army made ready for a move. Longstreet was 
recalled from North Carolina. In compliance with the re- 
quest left by General Jackson, General Ewell was put in com- 
mand of his old division, and the whole strength of the army, 
outside of the cavalry, amounted to seventy thousand men. 
The necessity of feeding this army was each day becoming 
a harder task to the exhausted South, and again General 
Lee determined to make an advance into the enemy's 
country. So leaving A. P. Hill in Hooker's front to de- 
ceive him with an appearance of activity, awuy went Lee 
with Ewell in the advance across the mountains into tlie 
Shenandoah Yalley, and they were knocking at Milroy's 
doors in Winchester before Hooker was convinced that 
there had been a movement. Milroy had treated the citi- 
zens of Winchester with the greatest tj^ranny, and he was 
despised by all ; so of course when the Confederates ap- 
peared there was great joy. A battle took place on the 
13th of June. The result may be guessed, as Milroy was 
no general and was in fear of his life, as he knew how he 
was hated. Half of his army was captured, and the rest, 
including their general, escaped singly or in small detach- 
ments. 

Lee in Pennsylvania. — The news of this disaster 
reached Hooker the day that it occurred. The govern- 
ment at Washington was, as usual, in a great panic about 
the safety of the city, and Hooker lost no time in break- 
ing up camp and moving towards Washington. In a very 
short time the entire Confederate army crossed into Mary- 
land and Pennsylvania, and the cavalry were levying con- 



336 EiSTORy OF Virginia. 

tributions on the farmers of Pennsylvania. President Lin- 
coln issued a call for one hundred and twenty thousand men 
to "repel the invasion," and there was the greatest alarm 
and indignation at the news that the Pennsylvania farmers 
were being pillaged. They forgot that for three years the 
Federal armies had been taking everything from Virginia 
and filling her with the dead bodies of her people, and that 
they were only tasting a morsel of the bitter food they had 
themselves administered. But although the Pennsylvania 
farmers did have to give of their stores, the supplies w^ere 
taken by military authority. The men committed no out- 
rages, although their sulfering and want were great, and 
they had left behind them homes desolated and women 
houseless. We find from the testimony of their own peo- 
ple that the crops and private property were everywhere 
protected. 

Gettysburg. — By the end of June the entire army under 
General Lee was concentrated at Gettysburg, in Pennsyl- 
vania, and there a great battle was fought. General 
Hooker had been superseded by General Meade, and he it 
was who commanded the Federal army on the field of Get- 
tysburg. The battle lasted three days. In the first two 
the Confederates were victorious, but the third was disas- 
trous to the Southern army, and General Lee was obliged 
to retreat back into Virginia with his wounded, bleeding 
army. Such is the fickle fortune of war. General Lee 
stopped for a few days to rest his soldiers in the Valley. 
But this inaction did not last long, as Meade was trying 
to cut him off from Eichmond by seizing the mountain 
passes. In this he was unsuccessful, and in a short time 
both armies were confronting each other and manoeuvring 
on the old'ground on the Rappahannock and Rapidan. 

A Virginia Campaign. — These stirring events were 
followed by a period of comparative quiet, onl}^ broken 
by cavalry raids on both sides. The Federal army had 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 337 

learned much from the brilliant movements of Stuart, 
Fitzhugh Lee, and others, and many darmg and romantic 
deeds were performed in the mountains of Virginia. In 
October, Lee moved towards the old battle-field of Manas- 
sas. He crossed the Rapidan and threatened the Federal 
right flank, but Meade declined to fight and retreated to 
Centreville and Alexandria, with the loss of fifteen hun- 
dred prisoners. The Confederates, in their turn, sufl'ered a 
reverse in an afi'air at Bristoe Station, where they lost a 
number of men and five guns. In November, also, the 
Confederates were surprised at Kelly's Ford and lost fif- 
teen hundred men. Again, on the 26th day of November 
Meade crossed the Eapidan and tried to cut the Confederate 
army in two, but met with entire failure. General Lee was 
posted at Mine Eun and in so favorable a position that 
Meade said in his report that he could not have taken it 
without the loss of thirty thousand men. As he did not 
attack, C4eneral Lee determined to attack him on the morn- 
ing of December 1, but Meade had retreated during the 
night. Both armies fell back to their original positions, 
and this ended the campaigns of 1863. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. Who was appointed to succeed Burnside? 

2. What road to Richmond did he choose? 

3. What seemed to be the chances of reaching there? 

4. Was Hooker confident of success? 

5. Describe the ground of these battles. 

6. What duty was assigned to Jackson ? 

7. Was he successful ? 

8. What is said of this stratagem? 

9. Describe the battle. Tell of Jackson's fall. 

10. How did General Lee regard his loss? What was Stuart's battle-cry' 

11. Describe Hooker's retreat. 

12. Did Hooker acknowledge a defeat? 

13. When did the Confederates begin to move? 
P w 29. 



338 ■ HlSrORV OF VIRGINIA. 

14. Give an account of the condition of the Confederate army. 

15. Tell what followed. 

16. Describe the advance into Maryland and Pennsylvania. 

17. How did the Confederates behave? • 

18. Tell of the battle of Gettysburg. 

19. Where do we next find the army ? 

20. Give an account of the rest of the campaigns of 1863. 



CHAPTEE XXXIX. 
1864. 

CONDITION OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY-POLICY OF THE UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT— GRANT APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 
—HIS PLAN FOR TAKING RICHMOND— BRECKENRIDGE AND SIGEL 
IN THE VALLEY-THE LEXINGTON BOYS-CAMPAIGNS OF HUNTER, 
CROOK, AND AVERILL-SECOND BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS- 
BATTLE OF SFOTTSYLVANIA— FIGHT AT YELLOW TAVERN— DEATH 
OF J. E. B. STUART, 

Virginia's Noble Record. — We have tried faithfully 
to follow the history of Virginia through three years of 
bloody war, in which we have seen her fighting bravely in 
defence of her soil and domestic rights and her desire for 
political independence. We have seen her victorious over 
fearful odds, and whether in victory or defeat bearing her- 
self worthy of her great past, and w^e have now reached 
the saddest point in her history, w^hen with her great 
heroes filling bloody graves she stands with diminished 
armies, barren fields, and empty treasury, submitting as 
bravely to the inevitable with a courage greater than that 
which sustained her on the battle-field. 

The United States government had, during the 
whole war, followed the idea that the only test of merit 
is success, and whenever a general failed to gain a victory 
he was superseded by another. But the obstacles to the 
taking of Richmond had proved so insurmountable that 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 339 

we have seen no less than six Federal generals fall from 
the high office of commander, in their attempts to capture 
this city. One army after another had fallen, and their 
ranks had been filled from the nations of the world, which 
the North could command. But a valuable lesson had 
been learned by the government; this was that it was 
best to allow the defeated officers to learn from experi- 
ence, which could not be done if they were changed so 
often. 

General Grant Commander-in-Chief. — When it was 
determined to place General U. S. G-rant at the head of 
the armies of the United States the people of the North 
resolved not only to give him all the men and means h^ 
asked for, but to put their faith in him. General Grant 
had gained his reputation in the West, where he had 
shown that obstinate determination never to abandon an 
enterprise, which was the secret of his final success. He 
knew that the North could raise as large armies as it 
pleased, while, on the other hand, as he wrote to a mem- 
ber of Congress, " the rebels have their last man in their 
ranks; they have robbed the cradle and the grave to 
get their present force. The little boys and old men are 
doing garrison duty and guarding prisoners." He argued 
that with an army of five to one the North could afi'ord to 
lose four to one and still have an army in the field if every 
soldier in the Southern army were killed. Not that he 
desired or expected such a terrible issue ; but the '' Union 
must be preserved" at all hazards. This reasoning was 
unanswerable, so a draft was ordered. But in some sec- 
tions the men who had seen so many thousands of their 
comrades march away to Southern battle-fields never to 
return, and who were now expected to fill their places, 
offered the stoutest opposition to it. In New York the 
attempt to enforce the draft produced a fearful riot, which 
raged for days, and many lives were lost. 



340 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

The Federal Armies. — An army of eight nunareo 
thousand men was raised and General Grant was placed 
in command of the whole, though he gave his personal 
attention only to that part of it which was appointed to 
the task of taking Eichmond. This consisted of three 
columns: one, under Butler, of thirty thousand men, which 
was to move from Gloucester Point up the south side of 
the James at the same time that the Army of the Potomac 
advanced from the Eappahannock. This latter army was 
one hundred and twenty thousand strong, commanded by 
General Meade, with General Grant by his side. These two 
armies were to meet at Eichmond, which, thus surrounded, 
must necessarily fall an easy prey. Still a third army 
was to advance up the Valley of the Shenandoah in two 
columns. A large force of infantry and cavalry under 
Crook and Averill was to go up the Kanawha Yalley and 
destroy the Tennessee and Virginia Eailroad, while Sigel 
with fifteen thousand men would advance from Winchester. 
These two forces were to unite at Staunton in time to join 
Grant and Butler in their triumphal entrance into Eich- 
mond. 

Lee's Resources. — These were undoubtedly well-laid 
schemes ; but the difficulty w^as that they did not compre- 
hend General Lee, who to oppose these mighty forces had 
with him in front of Grant fifty-four thousand men, and at 
Eichmond a few old men and boys in the trenches. These 
were afterwards reinforced by Beauregard from the South 
with eight thousand, and three thousand under Brecken- 
ridge in the Shenandoah Valley. All of the Federal col 
umns were to march on the 1st of May. 

In order that you may have a better understanding of 
these last great struggles I wnll describe in a few words 
the fate of the smaller columns before taking up the wres- 
tling of the two main bodies under Lee and Grant in their 
progress to the capital of the Southern Confederacy. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 341 

The Boys at New Market.— The army under Sigel 
moved up the Valley to New Market, where he met Breck- 
enridge, who after a severe engagement defeated him with 
heavy loss. An incident of peculiar interest in connection 
with this battle must not be omitted. There were at the 
militar}^ school at Lexington a number of boys who had 
been placed under the training of Colonel Ship, as a prep- 
aration for taking their places in the Confederate army. 
When General Breckenridge learned that Sigel with fif- 
teen thousand men was advancing against his little army 
of three thousand five hundred, he called upon Colonel 
Ship to come to his assistance with his little band of boj^s ; 
there were two hundred and thirty in all, ranging from the 
ages of fourteen to nineteen years. They reached New 
Market after a long march and a night bivouac in the rain 
and mud, just in time to take part in the battle. When 
General Breckenridge saw them, so young and gallant, 
he wished to shield them by placing them in a safe posi- 
tion ; but with all the ardor of youth they begged to be 
allowed a place in the advance, which was given to them, 
and they maintained their position in the hottest of the fight 
with the steadiness of veteran soldiers. Colonel Ship him- 
self led them forward under a heavy fire; their color-bearer 
fell, and his colors were caught up by a companion, and on 
they went. Colonel Ship was wounded, but still continued 
the command. They advanced through the rain and mud 
and some of the boys lost their shoes, but this did not cool 
their enthusiasm. Colonel Ship ordered a bayonet charge. 
The brave boys responded gallantly, leaped into the batter}^, 
killed the cannoneers, and drove back the infantry supports. 
They called upon the Federal colonel to surrender, but he 
refused to give up his sword to a " parcel of children," and 
they bayoneted him. They captured the guns and gained a 
brilliant victory, though at the expense of over fifty of the 
gallant band killed and wounded. Well did General Grant 

9»> 



342 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

say the Confederates were robbing the cradle and the grave 
to fill up the ranks of their armies. 

Crook and Averill, Federal commanders of cavalry, had 
in the mean time inflicted great damage upon the Virginia 
and Tennessee Railroad. General Sam Jones, C.S.A., was 
sent against them and compelled them to retire, when they 
joined the main column operating in the Yalley. 

Hunter's March in the Valley. — After the battle of 
New Market, General Sigel had been superseded in his com- 
mand by General David Hunter, who was ordered to pro- 
ceed to Staunton, to Charlottesville, and to Lynchburg. 
General Breckenridge had been withdrawn from the Valley, 
leaving onl}- a very small force of between three and four 
thousand undisciplined troops under General W. E. Jones 
to oppose Hunter's large army. General Imboden, C.S.A., 
with a few cavalry opposed his advance, retreating towards 
General Jones, who thought it best even with his unreliable 
army to attack Hunter before he was joined by Crook and 
Averill. They met near Port Republic, where the Confed- 
erates were defeated and their gallant leader. General W. E. 
Jones, was killed. After his fall General McCausland op- 
posed Hunter with gallantry and vigor, but his handful of 
men were no match for the force against which they con- 
tended.* 

Opposing Movements. — AVhen it became evident to 
General Lee that it was the object of General Hunter to 
reach Lynchburg and destroy the railroad at that place, 
and so complete the cordon around his army, he ordered 
General Breckenridge to proceed to Roekfish Gap in the 
Blue Ridge, with an army of two thousand five hundred 
men, to oppose Hunter, and General Early was also or- 
dered to watch any movement of that general on Lynch- 
burg. 

* " Memoirs of Eobert E. Lee," by General A. L. Long. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 343 

Sheridan and Hampton.— In the mean time, General 
Grant had detached Sheridan with a large force of cavalry 
to break up the railroad between Gordonsville and Eichmond, 
to destroy the James River and Kanawha Canal, and to co- 
operate with Hunter in his movement against Lynchburg. 
General Sheridan was met on the 12th of June by General 
Wade Hampton at Trevilian's Station, where one of the 
most masterly cavalry engagements of the war took place, 
resulting in the defeat of Sheridan, who was forced to 
make a night retreat to Grant's army south of Eich- 
mond. 

The Valley devastated.— Hunter proceeded to Eock- 
fish Gap, but finding it defended by Breckenridge with his 
small force, he decided not to risk an engagement, but 
changed his course and approached Lynchburg by another 
route. Upon which Breckenridge and Early, who was at 
Charlottesville, both hastened towards the same city by 
different routes. Hunter was reinforced by Crook and 
Averill near Staunton, and proceeded by Buchanan and 
Lexington, burning and destroying everything which came 
in his way. His name will ever be remembered in Virginia 
by the track of desolation which marked this march ; not 
only were dwelling-houses and crops unnecessarily de- 
stroyed, leaving homeless and starving people all along 
his course, but even the Military Institute and the houses 
of the professors at Lexington were burned to the ground. 
General McCausland, with a nominal force of cavalry, did 
all he could to oppose Hunter's progress, but was not able 
to accomplish much. 

Before Hunter reached Lynchburg, however, both 
Early and Breckenridge had arrived, and the hero who 
had been so successful in burning and laying waste where 
there was no one to oppose him, as soon as he saw him- 
self confronted by a large force relinquished his attack on 
Lynchburg, and made a rapid night retreat to the mountains 



344 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 




^^^. 




of Virginia. Early overtook him at Salem, defeated him, 
and drove him through the mountains to the Ohio Eiver. 

Early's March up the Valley.— Hav.ng thus relieved 
the Valley, Early jn'oceeded to make a diversion in order 

to draw away some 
of the for^e which 
was confronting Lee. 
He took the course 
which had become 
80 celebrated for its 
successes during the 
war, through the 
Shenandoah Val- 
ley, into Maryland, 
threatening Wash- 
ington City. To ac- 
complish his purpose 
he had only about 
twelve thousand 
men, but none knew 
better than General 
Early what had been 
done in the past with 
small armies moving rapidl}^ and striking boldly. He 
reached Staunton on the 27th of June, and halted for a 
few days to lay in supplies for his army, and then made a 
rapid march to Winchester, about one hundred miles dis- 
tant. Before the 4th of July he had driven a force from 
Martinsburg and one from Harper's Feny. 

Lew Wallace defeated and Washington threat- 
ened. — He then crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown 
into Maryland and advanced to Sharpsburg. So rapid had 
been his movement that it struck consternation to the 
hearts of the Federal authorities, and the most exaggerated 
estimates were made of the size of his force, which their 



'1^ 



GENERAL JUBAL A. RARLY. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



345 




346 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



fears multiplied to three or four times its real number. 
With the greatest alacrity troops were gathered to defend 
Washington and Baltimore, among them being three army 
corps from the army before Eicbmond, while General Lew 
Wallace with ten thousand men was sent to prevent the 
passage of the Monocacy River near Frederick City. Here 
a bloody fight took place, resulting in the utter rout of the 
Federal army, which fled to Washington, spreading dismay 
everywhere by the news that Early with thirty or forty 




SCKNK IN THB SHENANDOAH VALLEY. 



thousand men was advancing on the capital. The Confed- 
erates actually did advance within cannon-shot of the city ; 
and having accomplished what he intended, in causing the 
concentration of a large force for the defence of the capital, 
Early returned to Virginia, encamping at Berry ville, in 
the Valley of Virginia, about the middle of July. Thus in 
a little over a month '^ he had with a force not exceeding 
twelve thousand men marched over four hundred miles, 
defeated and dispersed two Federal armies of an aggro- 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA 347 

gate strength of more than double his own; had by his 
movement upon Washington created an important diver- 
sion in favor of General Lee's army, and had re-entered 
Virginia with a loss of about three thousand men." 

Operations in the Valley.— Early hearing that a large 
force under General Averill was advancing from Martins- 
burg to Winchester, sent General Eamseur with a division 
and two batteries of artillery to hold him in check, while 
he withdrew to a more favorable point to withstand an at- 
tack, near Strasburg. A bloody engagement took place, 
in which Eamseur was defeated with a heavy loss in men 
and guns, and was obliged to retreat to Early at Newtown. 
Averill pursued Eamseur to Newtown, eight miles from 
Winchester, but finding that he had joined Early, he fell 
back to Kerns^own, where he was joined by Crook with 
a considerable reinforcement. Early retreated to Stras- 
burg, but determined to make a rapid advance upon Crook 
and Averill at Kernstown. Securing the safety of his 
trains, on the morning of the 24th of July he put his army 
in motion. They chose for the attack the point at which 
Stonewall Jackson had attacked Shields in 1862, and the 
troops had the inspiration of that battle to help them in 
this. Breckenridge and Ehodes made the attack on the 
right and Eamseur and Gordon on the left, while the cav- 
alry were to close in behind the enemy as soon as defeated. 
The result was a great victory for the Confederates, whose 
loss was very small while the Federal loss was considerable.* 
The Defeat at Winchester.— Early, finding his enemy 
had retreated, advanced again into Maryland, but only for 
a'short time, as Grant became so alarmed at the reports of 
Early's successes that he increased the Army of the Shen- 
andoah Yalley and sent Sheridan to drive Early out of the 
Valley. Early retreated slowly before Sheridan to Fisher s 

* « Memoirs of llobert E. Lee," by General A. L. Long. 



348 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



Hill, where he offered battle, which Sheridan refused. Then 
followed a series of brilliant manoeuvres between the two 
generals, lasting through the month of August and until 
the 19th of September, when the battle of Winchester took 
place, where Sheridan threw his whole force of forty thou- 
sand men against Early's little army and defeated him 
badly. Early retreated to Fisher's Hill, and Sheridan was 
too badly hurt to be able immediately to follow up the 
success he had gained. 

Fisher's Hill. — Early had now only seven thousand 
men, and Sheridan attacking him at Fisher's Hill on the 
22d, forced him to retreat to Harrisonburg. Here the two 




THE BATTLE OF WINCHESTER, 

armies remained fronting each other until the 1st of 
October, when Sheridan retired to ^liddletown, between 
Strasburg and Winchester. Early followed him, and find- 
ing that his enem}' had taken up a position which gave 
him an advantage, he sent General Gordon to execute a plan 
which was most skilfully carried out. The Federals were 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 349 

awakened out cf sleep by the noise of Confederate guna 
and fled to Winchester, leaving everything behind them. 
If the Confederates had followed up their advantage the 
success would have been a glorious one ; but thinking their 
enemy had fled not to return, and seeing the rich camp 
with its treasures of food and luxuries, the poor, hungry, 
war-worn boys in gray dispersed to rifle the camp. Sheri- 
dan had been absent at the time of the engagement, but 
meeting his flyiiig men at Newtown he turned them back, 
and the victory was soon converted to a sad defeat. Early 
retired to Staunton. 

The Valley devastated.— Sheridan then proceeded to 
lay waste the beautiful Valley of Virginia. He says in his 
report, " I have destroyed a thousand barns filled with 
wheat and hay and farming implements, over seventy mills 
filled with flour and wheat, have driven in front of the 
army over four thousand bead of stock, and have killed 
not less than three thousand sheep. So entire has been 
the destruction that a crow flying across the Valley must 
carry its own rations." There was perhaps some vain 
boasting in this report. The two armies had too long 
been in occupation of the Valley to have left so much to 
be destroyed, but all that could be destroyed was, and the 
fires which followed his track carried despair to the hearts 
of the suffering people. 

Butler "bottled up." — Let us now return to the 
army before Petersburg. Butler had moved up from 
Gloucester Point and had taken possession with thirty 
thousand men, on the 6th of May, 1864, of Bermuda Hun- 
dred, a small tongue of land in shape not unlike a bottle, 
made by the winding of the James River. Here he estab- 
lished his base of supplies, which were brought up the 
river. He fortified the neck of the bottle and congratu- 
lated himself that he was entirely safe. As I before said, 
the only defenders of the city of Richmond were the men 



350 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

who were either too old or too young to go to the field; 
but it was not intended by the vigilant commander-in-chief 
that it should be thus left. Beauregard had been ordered 
from the south to undertake the work, and on the 10th 
that general took command of the troops at Petersburg. 
On the 16th of May a battle ensued with the forces under 
Butler, in which Butler was defeated and was forced to 
retire within his bottle, which General Beauregard effectu- 
ally corked and sealed by building a line of fortifications 
in front of those made by Butler, making it impossible for 
him to get out by land. General Grant said, " General 
Butler had allowed himself to be bottled up." 

Grant's Advance — Having thus briefly disposed of 
the two assisting columns of the Federal army, we will 
return to the main body, which on the 3d of Maj' camped 
on the Eapidan Eiver at Germanna and Ely's Fords, in- 
tending to march direct to Gordonsville and to get between 
Lee's army, at Orange Court-House, and Eichmond. It is 
difficult to understand how he could think that Lee would 
permit this without opposition ; but I suppose he imagined 
the movement was a surprise, and that Lee's army was too 
small to prevent his pur2)ose. Certainly, Grant regarded 
the passage of the river as a great triumph, and declared 
that the Confederate army was completely flanked. Hooker 
might have whispered of the dangers of that dark spot, 
the Wilderness, which had been as the shadow of death 
to his army j List one j^ear before. But Grant seems not 
to have had any fears, as with his whole immense army 
he camped in this dreary spot where the brave Jackson 
had met his death, and where so man}- souls on both sides 
had rendered up their lives. But the fact was that Lee 
had his foe just where he wanted him, as he had purposely 
allowed him to cross that he might shut him up in the 
dark forests of the Wilderness, every turn of which he 
knew and could use to advantage. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 351 

The Wilderness Struggle. — It was, therefore, some- 
what of a surprise to the Federal army, when on the morn- 
ing of the 5th of May it began its march in the direction 
of Gordonsville, to find the Confederates directly in its 
path. At first the generals thought it was only a small 
force ; but they soon found themselves mistaken, and then 
followed three days of terrible fighting, in which the dark 
hollows of the Wilderness were lighted up with the flames 
of death, while thousands of soldiers in blue and gray lay 
dead or dying in the woods. 

Spottsylvania. — On the 7th, Grant decided that any 
further eflfort to reach Gordonsville was useless, and he 
determined to change his base to Spottsylvania Court- 
House, which is fifteen miles away. The arrangements 
for this move were made with the utmost secrecy; but 
when the Federal army arrived it was to find the Confed- 
erates in occupation before them. Then followed twelve 
days of desperate and bloody struggle, at the horrible de- 
tails of which the heart grows sick. That ended, Grant 
once more decided that it was useless to continue a strug- 
gle which was hopeless of success, since the Confederates 
had achieved a series of victories which, considering the 
disparity of forces, seems too wonderful to be believed. 
The historian* of these events says, " Above forty thou- 
sand men had fallen in the battles of the Wilderness and 
Spottsylvania, and the exhausted army began to lose spirit. 
It was with joy, therefore, that they turned their backs 
upon the lines of Spottsylvania." 

Sheridan's Raid. — While the struggle at Spottsylvania 
had been going on Sheridan had made a raid around the 
armies in the direction of Eichmond, with the view of 
cutting Lee's communications with that city. Stuart soon 
discovered what he was about and set off with his cavalry 

* Swinton. 



352 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

to get between him and Eichmond. He massed his forces 
at the Yellow Tavern, a few miles from the city, where 
there was fought an obstinate battle in which the gallant 
cavalier, Stuart, was killed. You have known him through 
all of these pages of war history, and it is useless to pro- 
nounce his eulogy; but on the spot where he fell his State 
has honoied his memory with a monument, and his dash- 
ing exploits fill a page in history which will never be for- 
gotten. Sheridan succeeded in taking the outer line of 
intrenchments at Richmond, but finding further effort 
hopeless, he continued his raid as far as the White House 
and then returned to the Army of the Potomac. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What was the condition of the Confederates at the end of 1863? 

2. What was the policy of the United States government? 

3. Who was placed at the head of their armies? 

4. What was his plan for conquering the South ? 

5. Whiit was the effect of the new draft ? 

6. What was Grant's plan for the taking of Richmond ? 

7. What army had Lee to oppose him ? 

8. Give an account of the battle between Breckenridge and Sigel. 

9. Who superseded Sigel ? 

10. What did Crook, Averill, and Hunter accomplish ? 

11. Describe Early's advance. 

12. Describe the battles of Monocacy. Winchester, Fisher's Hill, etc. 

13. Describe Butler's achievements. 

14. Describe the situation of Grant's and Lee's armies. 

15. Describe the battle of the Wilderness. 

16.* Describe the battle of Spottsylvania Court-House. 
17. Where and hew did Stuart die ? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 353 

CHAPTER XL. 
1864^1865. 

BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA— SIEGE OF RICHMOND-EARLY'S EXPEDI- 
TION— ARMIES AT PETERSBURG— RETREAT OF CONFEDERATES— 
THE SURRENDER— DIVISION OF THE STATE— EMANCIPATION. 

Defence of the North Anna. — The next halting-place 
of the two armies was on the North Anna Eiver. The 
Federal army reached their chosen position, and lo! posted 
on the opposite banks were the Confederates ready for 
them. Here for four days did they battle over the cross- 
ing of the river, which the Federals succeeded in accomplish- 
ing, and after all — but I will let a historian friendly to their 
side tell the conclusion of the matter. He saj^s,* " The game 
of war seldom presents a more effectual checkmate than was 
here given by Lee ; for after Grant had made the brilliantly 
successful passage of the river, the Confederate commander, 
thrusting his centre between the two wings of the Army of 
the Potomac, put his antagonist at enormous disadvantage, 
and compelled him for the reinforcement of one or the other 
wing to make a double crossing of the river. The more his 
position was examined the more unpromising an attack 
seemed to be, and General Grant determined to withdraw 
and take up a new line of advance." Thus for a third time 
in a series of desperately fought battles were the diminished 
forces of the Confederacy victorious over the enemy. Each 
move of the armies brought them nearer to Richmond, Lee 
always keeping on the inner line between the Federal army 
and that city. 

Cold Harbor. — The next great battle was at Cold Har- 
bor, on the Chickahominy, where McClellan's army had 

* Swinton. 
X 30* 



354 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

met with a signal defeat two years before. Grant was 
determined to cross the Chickahominy at this point, and 
here on the 30th of May was the battle fought. The line 
of battle was six miles long. In the gray light of dawn 
there was a great rush of the Federal forces against the 
Confederate works, — a bloody loss and a falling back. In 
a brief space the victory was again decided for the Con- 
federate side. So sanguinary was the repulse that when 
the Federal commanders ordered their men to another at- 
tempt they refused to stir; "the verdict was emphatic 
against further slaughter." The loss on the Union side 
was thirteen thousand, while the Confederates lost scarce 
as many hundreds.* General Grant now determined to 
change his base to the south side of the James Eiver. 
His losses in the battles from the Wilderness to this point 
amounted to sixty thousand men, more than the whole 
number of Lee's army, while Lee had lost less than 
twenty thousand. But the Federal losses could be af- 
forded, while, alas ! for the Confederate cause, they had 
no source from which to draw. Grant by "hammering 
continuously" was accomplishing the result at which he 
aimed, even through defeat. 

The Siege of Petersburg. — General Lee knew that 
General Grant was moving on the 13th of June to the 
south bank of the James; but he had not men enough 
to follow and strike day after day, as he had done in the 
retreat of McClellan ; so he retired within the lines at 
Richmond. And now beofins the siecre of Eichmond, 
which lasted for ten months. It is generally acknowl- 
edged that it was very poor generalship in Grant not 
to seize Petersburg before Lee had time to transport his 
army to that place. Petersburg, being the centre of sev« 
eral railroads from which Richmond drew supplies, wa& 



■* Swinton. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 355 

really the key to the city. Petersburg taken, Eichmond 
must be abandoned. It was only garrisoned by old men 
and boys, and could have been taken with little difficulty. 
But the opportunity was neglected, and by the time Grant 
was ready to act, Lee was there with his army, and every 
effort to dislodge him was an utter failure. All during the 
hot days of that sad summer the little army of the Con- 
federacy kept at bay the hordes of the enemy, and was in 
almost every battle victorious; but every man that fell, 
even though he brought down with him a score of his foes, 
only hastened the end, for there was no one to take his 
place, while the Federals filled up their ranks without 
difficulty. Swinton, the historian from whom I have al- 
ready drawn so largely, who, though all of his sympathies 
are with the North, yet as an authentic historian tells the 
facts, says, "The success of the Confederate tactics was 
wonderful: each movement, except one on the Weldon 
Eailroad, was a victory accompanied by one or more thou- 
sand prisoners. The number of captures made by Lee in 
these successive swoops was wonderful." 

Mining the Confederate Works. — General Grant 
having so often failed to force the Confederate line was the 
more ready to lend an ear to a proposal to blow up the works. 
This proposal came from General Burnside, who, not having 
been a success as a commander-in-chief, now sought fame 
as an engineer. His plan, to which General Grant gave 
his consent, was to dig a mine under a part of the forti- 
fications, which when exploded would make a breach 
through which the Federal army could rush before the 
Confederates had recovered from their surprise. So ex- 
peditious were the workmen, that the mine was completed 
by June 23 and charged with eight thousand pounds of 
powder, and the 30th was the day fixed upon for the 
explosion. In order to create a diversion. General Grant 
sent a portion of his army to the north side of the James 



356 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

River, where they were instructed to make a demonstra- 
tion and give the impression that the attack was to be 
at that point. On the morning fixed upon all of the 
columns of the Federal army were in position, ready as 
soon as the great explosion took place to rush through 
the breach and seize upon Cemetery Hill, which com- 
manded the Confederate fortifications. 

The Explosion and its Result. — The hour arrived but 
the mine did not explode. An examination showed that the 
fuse had gone out before reaching the powder. It was re- 
lighted, and at half-past four the sleeping Confederates were 
awakened by a terrific explosion and the hurling into the air 
of an immense body of earth, which burst above them " and 
scattered timber, gun-carriages, stone, muskets, and muti- 
lated corpses, which quickly returned in a heavy shower 
upon the earth." Two hundred men were killed by the 
explosion, and a rent was torn in the Confederate lines one 
hundred and thirty-five feet long, ninety feet wide, and 
thirty feet deep. 

A Dreadful Slaughter. — The Confederate army was at 
first so stunned that a panic was imminent, but Colonel John 
Haskell, of vSouth Carolina, who commanded the artillery 
at that point, quickly guessed the truth, and in a few min- 
utes turned his guns upon the breach, and when the Fed- 
erals entered the crater they were met by a storm of shot 
and shell which completely demoralized them. In the 
confusion the Federal .soldiers piled themselves one upon 
another, and the mine presented the fearful picture of a 
struggling mass of human beings, upon whom the cannon 
poured its merciless death-dealing missiles. As soon as 
General Lee, who was at head-quarters, heard of the catas- 
trophe, he sent Colonel Venable of his staff" to huny for- 
ward the troops. General Mahone was first found with his 
division already under arms, and these rapidly advanced 
and with their bayonets expelled the Federal troops, who 



HISTORF OF VIRGINIA. 357 

were effecting a lodgement over the bodies of their own 
dead. General Mahoiie was reinforced by other troops 
and the Federals were driven back. The mine, instead of 
leading to victory, proved the grave of five thousand of the 
Union soldiers. General Mahone, Colonel Wiesiger, Colonel 
Haskell, General Pegram, and many others obtained promo- 
tion and honoi- for their gallantry on this occasion.* 

The Opening of the New Year. — After this tragic 
event, the tide continued to ebb and flow till cold weather 
compelled the armies to go into winter-quarters and take 
the rest they so much needed. But the opening year 
brought no life to brighten the prospects of the suffering 
South. The army in Georgia had been defeated by Sher- 
man. The little army in Virginia was almost surrounded, 
their supplies cut off in every direction, the Weldon Rail- 
I'oad, so important to them, had been lost, and General Lee 
came to the sad conclusion that the only hope for the cause 
he had so bravely sustained was to abandon Richmond and 
make a junction with Johnston's army in the south. They 
might fortify some interior line and still achieve victory. 

The Retreat from Richmond. — This conclusion was 
hastened by the events of the engagement of Five Forks, 
which was a point where a number of roads met. The 
brave fragments of the gallant army never fought with 
more desperate valor than at this engagement. When 
the great masses of the enemy folded around them they 
presented two fronts, and back to back fought on. But it 
was of no use ; they were all killed or captured except a 
few who escaped and scattered to the mountains. Then 
Lee saw that the time had arrived to give up the line of 
defence at Petersburg and strive as a last hope to fbrm a 
junction with Johnston. By the loss of Five Forks he was 
obliged to change the line of retreat which was the shortest 

* " Memoirs of Robert E. Lee," by General A. L. Long. 



358 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

to that by the south bank of the Appomattox. So with his 
little army, in the dead of night, on the 2d day of April, 
he filed silently through the streets of Petersburg. On 
their sad retreat they had one ration only, as supplies 
were ordered to meet them at Amelia Court-House. Im- 
agine their anguish when on arriving there, faint and 
starving, it was discovered that by some misunderstand- 
ing the trains had taken the supplies into Eichmond, 
where they were burned with the city. After that the 
story is too harrowing to relate. Men too weak to carry 
the musket dropped at the roadside and died, or were 
taken j^risoners and succored by the 2:>ursuing enemy. 

The Surrender. — Ewell, who, you remember, succeeded 
to Jackson's old command, had been left in the rear of the 
army to destroy the government stores and ironclads at 
Richmond. In attempting to rejoin the army he was sur- 
rounded, and after fighting as long as there was any use, 
he surrendered with the remainder of his force. Still Lee 
hoped against hope until the 9th of the month, when find- 
ing himself, at Appomattox Court-House, completely sur- 
rounded, he surrendered, bearing himself to the last 
"Worthy of his heroic record, and histor}^ will always ac- 
cord him his Avell-won place as the foremost commander 
of modern times. It is narrated by an eye-witness that, 
after the papers were all signed, he rode through the 
ranks of the men whom he had led to so many victories, 
and these veterans, losing consciousness of their own bitter 
anguish in what they knew his must be. rushed up to their 
old chief and, choking with emotion, vied with each other 
for the honor of touching his hand. With tears stream- 
ing down his cheeks he said, " M}^ men, we have fought 
through the war together ; I have done the best I could 
for you." 

This picture represents the meeting between Generals 
Lee and Grant in the parlor of Mr. McLean at Appomattox 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, 



359 



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360 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Court-House, to arrange for the surrender of the Army 
of Northern Virginia. Greneral Lee was accompanied only 
by Colonel Charles Marshall, a distinguished officer and 
member of his staff. General Grant and fourteen Federal 
officers make up the group. 

An Enemy's Testimony. — In closing the account I 
cannot do better than let their enemy bear his testimon}? 
to the gallantry of the Army of Northern Virginia. "If 
they drank the bitter draught of defeat, it was mollified 
by the consciousness of many triumphs. If the victors 
could recall a Malvern Hill, an Antietam, a Gettysburg, a 
Five Forks, the vanquished could recall a Manassas, a 
Fredericksburg, a Chancellorsville, a Cold Harbor. If a*; 
length the Army of Northern Virginia fell before the mas- 
sive power of the North, yet Avhat vitality it had shown! 
How terrible had been the struggle! How many hun- 
dreds of brave men fell before that result could be 
achieved !" But, in justice to the other side, we too must 
make our acknowledgment of the magnanimity of the 
victorious general. He not only gave a security of life 
and liberty to tlie soldiers who surrendered to him, but 
when afterwards the authorities at Washington wished 
to take back this promise and brim^ Lee and the other 
leaders to trial as traitors against the government. Gen- 
eral Grant, to his honor be it spoken, is said to have 
threatened to give up his sword and resign his commis' 
sion if the government refused to fulfil the promises he 
had made. 

T'wo Important Events. — Before closing this record 
it is proper to mention two events which form a portion 
of the history of the State. The first is the proclamation 
of President Lincoln, September 2, 1862, emancipating all 
the slaves in the United States, which took effect January 
1, 1863, and the other is the division of the State into 
Virginia and West Virginia. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 361 

Prior to the war there had been a great deal of dissatis- 
faction in that part of the State lying west of the Alle- 
ghany Mountains because of the unequal distribution of 
the public money. It was charged that all of the public 
improvements were lavished upon East Virginia, while 
West Virginia was entirely undeveloped,. The class of 
population in the two sections also contrasted strongly. 
Those in Eastern Virginia were, for the most part, the 
descendants of the early English settlers, proud of tKeir 
birth and of their ancestral homes, living in ease and com- 
fort with their negroes about them ; while the population 
of West Virginia were, for the most part, hardy moun- 
taineers, who had come in from the Western and ]N^orth- 
ern States and naturally had none of that inherited State 
pride which is a marked feature with Virginians. Their 
slave property was very inconsiderable, and they looked 
with jealousy on their neighbors, who lived in elegance, and, 
as they asserted, spent the money drawn from their hard 
earnings in building up their ow^n section, while the western 
portion of the State was suffering from such injustice. 

West Virginia established. — Whether this was the 
true view of the question or not it is not for us to decide. 
I tell it to explain why it was that when, after many de- 
lays, Virginia passed the ordinance of secession, and so 
many ardent sons of West Virginia, and among them 
some of the most gallant soldiers and able oflScers in the 
Confederate army, obeyed the call of their State and has- 
tened to her defence, that a meeting was held at Clarks- 
burg denouncing the action of the Richmond Convention, 
and calling a convention at Wheeling, which met June 11, 
1861. This Convention elected Francis H. Pierpoint gov- 
ernor of " the reorganized State of Virginia." They then 
appointed such officers as were necessary to properly con- 
duct the government, and in July elected two United 
States Senators. In the follow^ing October an election 
Q ^31 



362 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

was held, which by a very large majority declared in 
favor of the formation of a new State, which they first 
named Kanawha, but afterwards changed to West Vir- 
ginia. In November another convention met at Wheeling 
and framed a constitution for the new State, which was 
ratified by a vote of the people (May 3, 1862). 

The Debate in Congress. — This was carrying matters 
with a high hand, as they found when the question was 
brought into Congress. Mr. Conway, of Kansas, said, 
" The Constitution of the United States requires that no 
State shall be divided without the consent of its Legisla- 
ture. I do not regard this division as having received this 
assent unless this State of Virginia of which a Mr. Pier 
point is governor is the State. I do not believe that it 
is. This ' Pierpoint State' started into existence about two 
years ago. A number of individuals met at Wheeling and 
without any legal authority arranged a plan for a govern- 
ment. They argue that Vii-ginia has fallen into treason 
and has become null and void. Now, this is unsatisfac- 
tory to me. First, a Slate is a sovereign and cannot fall 
into treason, and, second, where is the law which warrants 
Mr. Pierpoint to assume the office of governor ? Who made 
the laws ? Who could give the sanction but the Legislature 
of Virginia." Mr. Segar, of Virginia, said, "It is claimed 
that forty-eight counties voted for this division. I can 
prove that fourteen of them had no part or lot in it ; their 
population, amounting to seventy- five thousand people, 
were not represented either in Convention or Legislature." 
Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, who was very bitter against the 
South, said, " I shall vote for this, not because we have any 
constitutional right, but because we have the power." And 
so it passed. Mr. Pierpoint transferred the seat of govern- 
ment from Wheeling to Alexandria, and when the war 
ended in 1865, he removed it to Charleston as the capital 
of the State. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 363 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. Describe the battle of the North Anna. 

2. Describe the battle of Cold Harbor. 

3. Where did Grant next go ? ^ 

4. What mistake did Grant make? 

5. What was the importance of Petersburg ? 

6. Describe the siege of Richmond. 

7. What diversion did Lee make ? 

8. Describe Early's expedition into Maryland. 

9. What caused the disaster at Cedar Creek ? 

10. Describe Sheridan's course in the Valley. 

11. What plan did Burnside form for the fall of Petersburg? 

12. What was its success? 

13. Give the condition of the armies before Petersburg. 

14. Describe the battle of Five Forks. 

15. Describe the retreat of the Confederates. 

16. Give an account of the surrender. 

17. What should be the feeling of victor and vanquished ? 

18. What two events are mentioned as bearing upon this history f 

19. What led to the division of Virginia? 

20. Why was it easy to accomplish ? 

21. What steps were taken ? 

22. Who was appointed governor ? 

23. What happened in the closing months of the year 1861 ? 

24. Was there opposition to this division in Congress ? 

25. What did Mr. Conway say ? 

26. What did Mr. Segar say ? 

27. What ground did the other side take ? 

28. Did the bill pass ? 

29. To what place did they transfer the State government? 



364 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

CHAPTER XL I. 
1865-1890. 

THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD— MILITARY GOVERNMENT— VIRGINIA 
DELEGATES ADMITTED TO CONGRESS— DISASTERS IN THE STATE 
—DEATH OF LEE— THE STATE DEBT— WEST VIRGINIA. 

All lost but Honor.— \ye have faithfully tried to follow 
the histoiy of the old Commonwealth of Virginia from the 
moment of her birth in 1606 to the close of the war in 1865, 
a period of nearly two hundred and sixty years, — years 
crowned with such honor as make Virginians proud to 
call her mother, — until w^e find her dismembered and bleed- 
ing, an uncrowned queen sitting amid the ruins of her 
homes weeping the loss of her children, held down under 
the military rule of the Union she had helped to make ; 
but still, unstained with dishonor, she bears her sorrows 
with an uncomplaining dignity which challenges the admi- 
ration of the world. 

The period which this chapter embraces may be 
divided into two sections : first, from 1865 to 1870, during 
which the reconstruction of the State engaged the atten- 
tion of the people, and, second, from 1870 to 1890, when 
the State debt was the absorbing object of interest. The 
first period commences with the surrender of Lee's arm}- at 
Appomattox, w^hen every branch of business was utterly 
prostrate, the State had a debt of over forty millions, the 
farms were fenceless, the stock and farming utensils all 
gone, there was no money in the treasury and none in 
private pockets, and the government was in the hands 
of her enemies, who held her in subjection with a rod of 
iron. 

The Murder of President Lincoln. — Had Mr. Lincoln 
lived there is no doubt that the reconstruction of the South- 



HISTORF OF VIRGINIA. 365 

ern States would have been rapidly accomplished. He had 
given such ample pledges to the States as encouraged them 
to hope for a speedy end of their troubles ; but hardly had 
the thunders of war ceased before the weapon of the assas- 
sin took away the life so important to the suffering country, 
and although no portion of the South could in any aspect 
be held responsible for what was so dire a misfortune to 
them, yet were they made to bear the burden and suffer 
for the guilt as if it was theirs. Many at the North, who 
although they hated the South yet were willing to accept 
Mr. Lincoln's arguments, now raised an outcry for her utter 
ruin. 

Congress passed three amendments to the Constitution, 
-—the thirteenth, emancipating the slaves ; the fourteenth, 
giving them all equal rights with the white man, including 
the right of suffrage ; and the fifteenth, binding the States 
to observe these laws perpetually. As the Constitution of 
the United States provided that each State government 
should decide the slavery question and the question of 
who should or should not vote within her limits without 
interference of Congress, it was necessary, in order to ac- 
complish the desired end, to force the States to adopt 
the new amendments. This was done by declaring that 
their people should not have the privileges of citizens until 
the States adopted these amehdments. To further enforce 
this the Southern States were divided into military districts 
and military governors appointed over them. These, in 
their turn, appointed provisional governors, and to make 
the matter more sure, the citizens who had taken part in 
the war were deprived of the right to vote by an oath 
which was administered to all voters and office-holders, 
and by which they swore they had never taken arms 
against the Union, had never given aid and comfort to the 
Confederacy, and so on. In Virginia, where the war raged 
for so many years, there were few white men, women, or 

3i* 



S66 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

children who had not either fought against the Union or 
fed the poor soldiers, soothed and comforted the wounded, 
suffering, and dying, and done willingly all they could 
for the cause they loved. So there were but few white 
voters or office-holders, and the military governors com- 
plained that they could not make any progress in recon- 
structing the State when there were not enough men who 
were capable of filling the State offices to put into them. 

Under Military Government. — Virginia was under 
two governors at this time, and it requires close attention 
to keep the record straight. General Schofield was ap- 
pointed first military governor of District Xo. 1 (Virginia) 
in 1867. Governor Pierpoint had been re-elected Governor 
of Virginia in 1864, so his term did not expire until 1868. 
Schofield Avas succeeded by General Stoneman, and Henry 
H. Wells was appointed to succeed Pierpoint. General 
Canby succeeded General Stoneman, and in 1869 Virginia 
adopted her new constitution with the three clauses which 
were made the condition of her restoration. That accom- 
plished, Gilbert C. Walker was elected governor b}^ the 
people. He was a Northern man and a Eepublican, but 
was elected by the Democrats, Wells being the Eepublican 
candidate. General Grant, then the President, insisted that 
the vote of the people should be untrammelled. The new 
governor proved very acceptable in his office. State officers 
and members of the Legislature were elected, and in 1870 
delegates to the Congress of the United States were admitted 
from A^irginia. The noble old Commonwealth was restored 
to her place in the family of States. Before going further I 
will tell you a little inciden\t which will impress some facts 
of this period upon you and serve to make you understand 
how the proud Virginians suffered under these humilia- 
tions. 

An Interesting Event. — Tn the Capitol Square at Rich- 
mond is a monument by Crawford, erected to the memory 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



;67 



of the great men of the Eevolutionary period. A bronze 
equestrian statue of Washington rises from a pedestal of 
granite, and around him, each on a separate pedestal, are 
placed magnificent bronze statues of these Virginians of 




MONUMENT AT CAPITOL SQUARE, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. 



^he past. Among them is Jefferson, with the Declara- 
tion of Independence in his hand ; Mason, with the Bill 
of Eights; Chief-Justice Marshall, with a book of law; 
and Patrick Henry, the soldier orator, with his sword 



368 HISTORY OF VIRGIMA. 

extended. The statue of John Marshall, Virginia's most 
celebrated jurist, arrived in Richmond just at the opening 
of the war, too late to be placed upon its pedestal. It re- 
mained unpacked in the basement of the Capitol until the 
war closed, and while Vii'ginia was Military District No. 1 
it was placed in position. The next day this poem appeared 
in the morning papers trom the pen of Innis Randolph, a 
gifted son of the State : 

" We are glad to see you, John Marshall, my boy, 
So fresh from the chisel of Rogers. 
Go take your stand on the monument there 

Along with the other old codgers. 
With Washington, Jefferson, Henry, and such 

Who sinned in the great transgression, 
In their old-fashioned notions of justice and right 

And their hatred of wrong and oppression. 
You come rather late to your pedestal, John, 

For sooner you ought to have been there. 
The volume you hold is no longer the law, 

And this is no longer Virginia. 
The old Marshall law you expounded of yore 

Is now not at all 4o the purpose, 
For the martial law of the new Brigadier 

Is stronger than habeas corpus. 
Then keep you the volume shut with care, 

For the days of the law are over. 
And it takes all your brass to be holding it there,. 

With justice inscribed on the cover. 
Could life awaken those limbs of bronze, 

And blaze in the burnished eye, 
What would ye do with your moment of life, 

Ye men of the days gone l)y? 
Would ye chide us, pity us, blame or weep. 

Ye men of the days gone by? 
Would Jefferson throw down the scroll he holds^ 

AV'hii-h time has proven a lie ; 
And Marshall shut up the volume of law 
And lay it in silence by } 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 369 

And Mason tear up the Bill of Rights 

From a nation unworthy to scan it ; 
And Henry dash down his eloquent sword, 

And clang it against the granite ; 
And Washington, riding in massy state 

On the charger which paws the air, 
Could he see his sons in their deep disgrace, 

Would he ride so proudly there ? 
He would get him down from his big brass horse, 

And cover his face at our shame, 
For the land that he loved is now District 1 j 

Virginia was once its name I" 

A Dreadful Disaster. — The year 1870, which saw Vir- 
ginia restored to her rights under the Constitution, was a 
year of disaster and sorrow. A controversy was in prog- 
ress in the city of Eichmond between Chahoon and Elly- 
son, the first having been appointed mayor of the city by 
the military governor, while the latter was elected by the 
people. Each held the office in different parts of the city, 
appointed his officers, and discharged his duties, causing, 
of course, great confusion in business. The decision of 
the courts proving unsatisfactory, at length they agreed 
together to submit the matter to the Court of Appeals, 
which met in the second story of the Capitol. A great 
crowd of people assembled to hear the verdict, which was 
in favor of the election by the people. This crowd in- 
cluded many ladies. Suddenly the crowded gallery gave 
way, and with its human freight fell to the floor, which 
also gave way beneath it, and all were dashed with the 
m.ass of debris into the legislative hall, in which the Legis- 
lature would have assembled in a few moments. Sixty 
were killed and one hundred and twenty wounded, among 
them some of the most valuable citizens of the State. This 
sad accident, which plunged the State into the deepest sor- 
row, occurred April 27, 1870. 



370 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



Death of General Lee. — The following September a 
freshet occurred in the James and Shenandoah Rivers, 
which swept away from the impoverished people five 
million dollars' worth of property. On October the 10th 
of this year died General Eobert E. Lee, the Christian 
soldier and gentleman. 

A tribute to his memory in a history of Virginia is 
surely most tit. After the surrender he returned to Rich- 
mond, where his family awaited him, and casting aside his 

military life like a gar- 
ment, in calm resigna- 
tion he took up the 
every-day life left to 
him. This must have 
been a sore trial to the 
brave soldier, not only 
for the ordinary rea- 
sons which -will readily 
occur to you, but be- 
cause he had been in 
the army since his 
bo^diood, and it is 
hard when a man ha? 
lived over half a cen- 
tury to change the 
habits formed in youth. 
But no one ever heard 
a murmur from him. 
The writer of these pages well remembers what a blessing 
his counsel was to the young men returning from the army. 
Disappointed and reckless, they imagined all was lost with 
the Confederacy, and were ready to desert home and friends 
rather than live under the government against which they 
had fought for four years. Many of them did leave,— some 
for Soutn America. Some prominent otficers became dis- 




W^' 



GENERAL R. E. LEE. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 3? , 

tinguished in the Egyptian army, and more than one I ,i5^ 
made a name in the army of France. Mr. Benjamir, a 
member of President Davis's cabinet, escajoed, when he 
was made a prisoner, and gained both honors and wealth 
in the service of the Queen of England. Few of these re- 
turned heroes failed to go and see " Old Mars Robert," as 
they affectionately called him, and to each he said, " Stick 
to your State. Accept tlie situation. You have fought 
for her like a brave man, now work for her like a brave 
man." 

He was an object of great curiosity to the soldiers 
of the Federal arm}- who were in Richmond. Everj^ Sun- 
day when he went to St. Paul's Church, the crowd of bo3^s 
in blue would part to let him pass, and I have often thought 
what a trial this must have been to a proud, sensitive nature 
like his; but no one ever heard him say so. He accepted 
this as he did all the rest, with calm dignity. Many lucra- 
tive and responsible positions were offered him, but he re- 
fused them all to accept the presidency of Washington 
College at Lexington, where he lived and died beloved 
and honored by all. 

An Impressive Ceremony. — The name of the college 
was changed from " \Yashington" to "Washington and 
Lee" in his honor, and the noted Virginia sculptor, Ed- 
ward Valentine, of Richmond, was employed by the Lee 
Memorial Association to prepare a monument to mark his 
grave. How nobly he has fulfilled the trust committed to 
him all can testifj^ who have seen the magnificent recum- 
bent statue of the hero, which rests above the grave 
where he lies with his noble wife beside him. He is repre- 
sented as lying on his soldier's camp-bed with his blanket 
draping his form. The likeness is perfect. The day the 
monument was unveiled, as General A. L. Long in his 
charming life of Lee relates, " the whole immense proces- 
sion went to the cemetery and placed immortelles on the 



372 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

graves of the soldiers, and at the head of Stonewall Jack- 
son's grave placed a bronze memorial tablet. The Virginia 
orator, John W. Daniel, delivered an oration which elicited 
praise from the press of the whole country. Father Eyan 
recited his famous poem, ' The Sword of Lee.' Then the 
multitude repaired to the mausoleum, where Miss Julia 
Jackson, the daughter of Stonewall Jackson, drew back 
the curtain from the exquisite marble figure." 

The period from 1870 to 1890 has been barren of 
interesting events. The Legislature has been principally 
engaged in devising means to pay the public debt, which 
have not yet met with success. The subject is too unfin- 
ished for us to enter upon it at any length, and w-e can 
only hope that the record of the old State in the past will 
not be blotted by any unworthy action in the jDresent 
crisis. 

The State is steadily growing in prosperity, its won- 
derful resources are being rapidly developed, and many 
who are seeking wealth in the far West may well look to 
the field afforded in their own State, where the mountains 
teem with coal and iron and other minerals, and the soil 
yields ready crops to the laborer. It is w^ell to call to 
mind General Lee's advice, and w^ork to advance your own 
State. Strive for the payment of her honest debt, and let 
this generation leave this trust of our forefathers without 
a stain upon her noble crest. 

The cause of education is making rapid advance, 
the common-school system has become very efficient, the 
negroes are having every advantage of the system, the 
colleges and schools are not surpassed by those of any 
other State, and many new colleges have sprung into 
existence. 

Literary Progress. — For some time after the war it 
was feared that in the struggle for daily bread Virginia 
would lose her prestige in the field of literature, but each 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 373 

year some new writer from Virginia is springing into 
notice, until she bids fair to more than redeem the past. 

Political Affairs.— In 1873, General Kemper, a former 
officer in the Confederate army, was eleoted governor. He 
was succeeded in 1878 by Colonel Frederick W. M. Holli- 
day, who had given an arm to the Confederate service. In 
1882, Colonel William E. Cameron, also an ex-Confederate, 
became governor. In 1886 he was succeeded by General 
Fitzhugh Lee, a nephew of General E. E. Lee, and whom 
you have known in these pages as one of the distinguished 
cavalry officers in the Confederate service. In 1890, Cap- 
tain Philip W. McKinney, who had served through the 
war under General J. E. B. Stuart and General Fitzhugh 
Lee, entered upon the duties of the office. From these 
facts it may be gathered that Virginia delights to honor 
the sons who fought for her, and that she has succeeded 
in grasping the reins of government with her own hands, 
where we trust they ma}^ always rest. 

West Virginia. — Meanwhile, the young State of West 
Virginia grows and prospers, having none of the difficul- 
ties to contend against which have retarded the parent 
State. When the war was over Virginia raised a pro- 
test against her dismemberment, but it was of no avail. 
She then tried to regain the two magnificent counties, 
Berkeley and Jeiferson, but in this also she failed. The 
only contest remaining between the mother and daughter 
is about the division of the tremendous debt. This is as 
3^et unsettled. In the mean time West Virginia is grow- 
ing, cities are springing up, her resources are rapidly de- 
veloping and railroads being built, and she bids fair in the 
future to strive side by side with Virginia. May they 
reach the goal shoulder to shoulder, one in honor, one in 
interest, one in affection, though two in name. 

32 



374 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

1. What of Virginia of the past ? 

2. What was her condition in 1865? 

3. Into what two sections may this period be divided? 

4. What were the diflSculties in her reconstruction ? 

6. What was the efiFect of Mr. Lincoln's assassination ? 

6. What three amendments were made to the Constitution? 

7. How were the States forced to adopt them ? 

8. How were Virginians prevented from voting? 

9. Who were the governors of Virginia during this period? 

10. When did Virginia adopt her new Constitution ? 

11. Who was the first governor elected by the people ? 

12. When were delegates from Virginia admitted to Congress? 

13. Tell the incident of John Marshall's statue. 

14. What disaster occurred in April, 1870? 

15. What in September ? 

16. Tell of Lee's life. 

17. Of the honors paid him. 

18. What has engrossed the interest of the State since 1870 ? 

19. Has any means been devised to relieve the State from debt? 

20. Is the State prospering ? 

21. In what directions? 

22. Who have been her governors since 1874? 

23. What may be gathered from the facts narrated? 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 375 



CHAPTER XLII. 
1890-1904. 

THE BOOM PERIOD-INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT— THE UNI- 
VERSITY BURNED-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION— EDUCA- 
TIONAL AND LITERARY PROG 1:IESS — MONUMENTS AND 
MEMORIALS— MINERALS, STAPLES, FRUITS, ETC. 

The Boom Period. — In 1890 there occurred a remarkable 
era of speculative adventure in laying off and promoting 
new to\\Tis, which came to be known as "booming." Not 
since "the Mississippi Bubble'' of John Law, in 1718-1720, 
has speculation run so riot in any part of this country. Old 
fields contiguous to small villages were laid off and platted 
into imaginary cities, with streets, avenues and boulevards 
of great dimensions; and such was the greed to make 
money quickly that town lots, where there were no towns 
except on paper, were sold, and several times resold on the 
same day, at fabulous prices. Large improvements were 
projected in the way of manufactories, electric plants, 
parks, and all the adornments and conveniences of rich and 
populous cities. Of course the bubble soon burst, and much 
loss followed ; yet not without some compensation in a few 
localities favored by nature. The rich mineral wealth of 
Southwest Virginia and the James Eiver Valley was 
developed as one result of the boom, and railroad and tele- 
phone lines — ^both considered important factors in modem 
civilization — were extended. In many places where there 
had been only straggUng villages, thriving towns sprung up, 
many of which became and have remained important cen- 
ters of industrial and commercial enterprise, while all the 
larger cities felt to a greater or less extent the stimulus of 
the speculative movement. 



376 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Norfolk and Newport News on the seaboard, where great 
railroad systems center, became important export towns for 
the products of the West and the South, and especially of 
the teeming coal mines of Virginia and West Virginia. 
Coke ovens, whose fires are never permitted to go out, 
extend for miles along the lines of two of the trunk rail- 
roads that reach deep water at these ports, where the ships 
of the world come for fuel, and where the navies of all the 
nations can ride safely at anchor in any storm. 

The State Debt.— The settlement of the debt, which had 
been such a burden upon the Commonwealth, was practi- 
cally accomplished during the administration of Governor 
McKinney (1890-1893) ; except that the portion of it due 
by West Virginia has not yet been judicially determined. 
In the settlement reached with the bondholders one-third of 
the debt was agreed upon as the fair proportion of that 
State. 

Burning of the University. — The worst calamity that 
befell the State during this period was the destruction of 
a part of the buildings of the University of Virginia, the 
foster-child of Thomas Jefferson. On the 27th of October, 
1895, the great Public Hall, containing among many other 
things of inestimable value the famous painting known as 
"The School of Athens" copied from RaphaeFs great fresco 
in the Vatican, was wholly destroyed by fire, and the 
interior of the beautiful Rotunda, with a large portion .of 
the invaluable library, was also consumed by the flames. 
The injuries to the buildings were promptly repaired, and 
in the restoration, Jefferson's architectural plans were 
more closely followed. The restored Rotunda and the three 
new buildings at the southern end of the quadrangle form 
what is generally acknowledged to be the most beautiful 
and artistic group of university buildings in the world. 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 377 

"The School of Athens" has been restored as a fresco, in 
place of the canvas ; special permission to copy the original 
having been gi-acionsly granted by Pope Leo. The Library 
has also been re-established, and is now embellished with a 
bust of Edgar Allan Poe, who was educated at the Univer- 
sit3^ and with busts and portraits of some of its most 
eminent professors and students. 

War with Spain.— On the night of February 15th, 1898, 
the United States battleship, the "Maine," while lying at 
anchor in the harbor of Havana in Cuba, was blown up, 
and two of her officers and two hundred and fifty-eight of 
her crew were killed in the explosion. At that time Cuba 
belonged to Spain, and had for some years been in a state 
of revolution. The cruelty of the Spanish soldiers to the 
Cubans had already caused a protest from the United 
States government, and our relations with Spain were 
strained. The destruction of the "Maine," though never 
proven to have been caused by the Spanish government or 
its officials, so inflamed the public mind as to be the cause 
of war, which was formally declared by Spain, April 24th, 
1898. 

Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia, who had been a distinguished 
Confederate general of cavalry, was the American consul- 
general at Havana at that time. When war was declared 
he was appointed a major-general of volunteers in the 
United States army, and Virginia promptly furnished her 
quota of troops called for by the national government. 
They, however, participated in no battle, the little fighting 
that ensued being mostly done by the navy with brilliant 
success. 

The chief result of the war was the liberation of Cuba 
and the acquisition by the United States of Porto Eico in 
the West Indies and of the Philippine Islands in the 



378 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

Orient. Perhaps the most gratifying effect of it was the 
actual restoration of mutual confidence and good feeling 
between the sections that had been arrayed against each 
other in the War of Secession. At the close of the war 
General Lee, of Virginia, and General Wheeler, of Ala- 
bama, both of whom had been general oflQcers in the Con- 
federate army, were placed on the retired list of the regular 
army, wdth the rank of brigadier-general, and many of 
the participants in this war who had enlisted from the 
Southern States received commissions in the army and 
navy of the United States. 

Assassination of the President. — On the 6th of Septem- 
ber, 1901, while receiving the ovations of the people at the 
great Pan-American Fair at Buffalo, New York, William 
McKinley, President of the United States, was shot by an 
anarchist, and after lingering for a few days died univer- 
sally lamented. He had but recently entered upon his 
second term, and his administration had been so patriotic 
and unsectional that it had begun to be known as the 
Second Era of Good Feeling, as that of the Virginian, 
James Monroe, is known as the first 

Constitutional Convention. — The State Constitution 
framed by aliens in 1867 and ratified under threats in 
1869, was from the first odious to the great body of the 
intelligent people of Virginia. Several of its worst features 
had been changed by the method of amendment provided 
by its terms; but it remained a burden to the. people who 
had had no share in framing it. In 1901 the question of a 
convention to reform and amend the constitution was sub- 
mitted to the people by the General Assembly. The con- 
vention was called, and after deliberating for many months, 
framed a new constitution and proclaimed it as the organic 
law of the State. Ever}^ department of the government. 



HlbTORY OF VIRGINIA, 379 

legislative, executive, and judicial, promptly acknowledged 
the constitution by taking an oath to support it. 

The changes made by it are many and important, the 
most important of all bearing on the suffrage — the right to 
vote in elections. After 1904 no one can become a voter 
Mthout an educational' qualification and the payment of a 
small head tax, and consequently the ignorant will no 
longer be able to vote. In all former constitutions, if there 
was any qualification required of voters, it was one not of 
intelligence but of property. 

Other changes to be noted are the abolition of the time- 
honored county courts, the election of all the senators every 
fourth year instead of one half of them every second year ; 
the establishment of a Corporation Commission, whose chief 
function is to.supervise all corporations other than muni- 
cipal doing business in the State ; and the election of cer- 
tain executive officers by the vote of the people instead of 
by the General Assembly. 

Educational and Literary Process. — Since 1890 great 
progress has been made m general educational opportuni- 
ties. The public school system, first formulated by Jeffer- 
son in 1779, but not fully and permanently established in 
Virginia till 1870, has grown in iDopularity and efficiency. 
School houses have been multiplied until free education 
is offered to the children in almost every hamlet in the 
State, and in the more populous communities graded and 
high schools are provided for those who wish to acquire a 
broader and more thorough education. 

The acquisition of the Philippine Islands has given color 
to the demand for a larger standing army, which the 
fathers of the Republic deemed a menace to free institu- 
tions. This has added impetus to military education, and 
in consequence the two public military schools of the State, 



380 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington and the Vir- 
ginia Polytechnic Institute at Blacksburg, have had large 
accessions of cadets. Manual and industrial training is 
steadily becoming a part of the educational system. The 
University of Virginia, as the capstone of the public school 
system, affords free tuition to Virginia students in the 
several schools of the academic department, and the num- 
ber of students has greatly increased, as it has also at the 
State Female Normal School at Farmville. The venerable 
College of William and Mary, at Williamsburg, founded in 
1693, is now part and parcel of the public school sys- 
tem of Virginia, being the State Normal School for the 
education of male teachers for the public schools. 

The many excellent private academies, seminaries and 
colleges, are doing great service in the cause of higher 
education; nor has there been any abatement in effort or 
expense for the education of the colored people. 

So, too, Virginia has made distinct progress in the field 
of literature. Virginians of to-day can read in a new and 
sumptuous edition the "Westover Manuscripts" of Colonel 
William Byrd — a classic of the colonial period. It is to 
be regretted that the only edition of the writings of Dr. 
George W. Bagby, the first and the foremost interpreter of 
Virginian character and customs, has been exhausted. 

Passing by the writings of John Taylor, of Caroline, of 
George Fitzhugh, of Albert Taylor Bledsoe, of John R. 
Thompson, of John Esten Cooke, and of many others 
worthy to be named, as belonging to a past era, it remains 
a matter of pride to mention the following Virginian 
authors: Dr. Alexander Brown, historian; William Wirt 
Henry, biographer of his grandfather, Patrick Henry; 
Philip A. Bruce, historian; Father Tabb, poet; Armistead 
C. Gordon, poet and short story writer; the distinguished 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 381 

novelists Thomas Nelson Page, Mary Johnston, Ellen 
Glasgow, Amelie Elves, Mollie Elliott Seawell, and many 
others. Nor ought the writings of John Eandolph Tucker, 
on the Constitution, and the standard law text-books of 
John B. Minor, John W. Daniel, and of Eobt. T. Barton, 
to be omitted in any mention of Virginian authors. The 
writings of Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, 
have been compiled, edited, and published by capable 
scholars, and are still accepted as leading texts on the 
science of government and statecraft. 

Monuments and Memorials. — On the 29th day of May, 
1890, a splendid equestrian statue of General Eobert E. 
Lee — the work of the eminent French artist Mercier — was 
unveiled at Eichmond in the presence of the largest body 
of ex-Confederates that has assembled since the close of 
the Civil War. Capable critics pronounce the statue a 
fine work of art. 

A handsome shaft, designed after Pompey's Pillar, and 
known as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, was dedi- 
cated with imposing ceremonies in 1894 in Eichmond, 
where are also to be seen statues of "Stonewall" Jackson, 
A. P. Hill, and others. On May 31st and June 1st, 1907, 
statues of J. E. B. Stuart and Jefferson Davis were un- 
veiled at Eichmond in the presence of an immense crowd. 
Many cities and counties have also erected monuments, 
more or less imposing, to their Confederate dead. The 
memorials are to be regarded as tributes of affection and 
tokens of loyalty to the past : in no sense as an expression 
of disloyalty to the existing order. 

The Jamestown Exposition. — The progressive condition 
of the State made it possible for her to celebrate the three- 
hundredth anniversary of the foundation of Virginia in 
fitting style. General Fitzhugh Lee was the first president 



382 HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 

of the Jamestown Exposition, but he died in 1905, after 
doing valuable work. The Exposition was opened on April 
26th, 1907, by President Eoosevelt in the presence of a 
notable assemblage and with a great military and naval 
display. The Jamestown Exposition was one of the most 
beautiful ever held; its unsurpassed site on Hampton 
!Roads, its tasteful and handsome buildings, and its 
magnificent electrical display will make it notable among 
great shows. 

Material Progress. — Virginia is once more in the van of 
progressive States. Her mineral wealth is believed to 
be practically inexhaustible. Her mineral springs continue 
to be the beneficent fountains of health. Her fruits, notably 
the far-famed Albemarle pippins, are regularly exported 
for the tables of royalty. Her wines are in active competi- 
tion with the imported clarets. Her beef cattle, fattened 
on the green pastures of the Great Valley and the South- 
west, are exported by the shipload. Her oyster bottoms 
cover thousands of acres, and are susceptible of develop- 
ment. Manufactures, already flourishing, are being ex- 
tended year after year: the largest dry dock and one of 
the largest shipyards on the continent are located at 
Newport News, a mammoth locomotive-works plant at 
Eichmond and the most extensive zinc works in the world 
at Pulaski City. And what at one time constituted her 
currency and almost her only export — the celebrated 
Virginia Leaf Tobacco-Continues without a peer in all 
the markets of the world. 

Recent Political Events. — The era since the adoption of 
the new Constitution has been marked by some political 
changes. The restrictive suffrage clauses of the Constitu- 
tion have considerably reduced the number of voters and 
thus accentuated the Democratic control of the State. In 



HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. 383 

1905 the primary election system of nomination was intro- 
duced in the State for nominations for United States 
Senator, Governor and other officers. Governor A. J. 
Montague opposed Senator Martin for the Senatorship, 
but the latter was confirmed at the primary. Claude A. 
Swanson was nominated for Governor. The election of 
Martin and Swanson followed as a matter of course. 

The Legislature of 1908 expressed its appreciation of 
the public school system by providing old-age pensions 
for public school teachers. For the purpose of furthering 
the better education of teachers, the Legislature appro- 
priated funds for the creation of Normal Schools at 
Harrisonburg and Fredericksburg. 

The West Virginia Debt. — Virginia was never satisfied 
with West Virginia's refusal to pay her share of the debt^ 
of the old State after acknowledging her indebtedness 
and promising to pay. Suit was brought against West 
Virginia for recovery and the case was argued in the 
United States Supreme Court in 1908. 



[the end.] 



Virginia Historic and Scenic Views 

A ^ 4^ 

We publish a series of Post Cards of Historic and Scenic Vir- 
ginia Views. The full series should be in the home of every 
Virginian. No State so abounds in historic scenes as does the old 
Mother State. These views are very helpful in teaching children 
about the wonderful places in the Old Dominion. 
See following for titles of complete series. 

J. P. BELL CO., Inc., 

Lynchburg, Va. 
^ ^ ^ 

1. "Pine Knot" — President Roosevelt's Cottage, Albemarle Co., 

Va. 

2. Natural Bridge, Virginia. 

3. Point of Rocks, McAfee's Knob, Virginia. 

4. The Cyclopean Towers. 

5. Roanoke Valley. 

G. The Old Packet Boat (as it looks to-day), on which the re- 
mains of "Stonewall" Jackson were carried from Lynchburg. 
Va., to Lexington, Va. 

8. The Old ^Yythe Shot Tower in Virginia — dating back to Revo- 

lutionary times. 

9. Great Falls of the Potomac, Virginia. 
10. Natural Tunnel, Scott County, Va. 

12. Monticello, Home of Thomas Jefferson, 

13. Apple-Orchard Falls. 

14. Big Springs, Elliston, Va. ~ 

L5. "Darkies in de Goober Patch," harvesting peanuts in Virginia. 

16, Sharp Top, Peaks of Otter, Virginia. 

17. Falling Springs, near Hot Springs, Va. 

19. In the Tobacco Fields of Old Virginia. 

20. Spot where Lee made Farewell Address to his Soldiers — Appo- 

mattox, Va, 

21. Mountain Lake. Giles County, Va. 

22. Yorktown. Looking Oceanward. 
26. Peaks of Otter, Virginia. 

54. State Female Normal School. 

60. William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va. 

61, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va, 

104. A Virginia jMountain View. 

105. The Famous Six-Mile Bridge. 

106. Scene on the James River, Virginia. 



107. In the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. 

117. Meadow Creek Falls, Virginia. 

123. Virginia Wlieat Field. 

127. Green Fields of Virginia. 

130. Virginia Ox Team. 

201. A Virginia Trout Stream. 

203. Scene on Fisliing Creek, Virginia. 

208. Narrows of New River, Virginia. 

209. Curl Neck Farm Mansion, Virginia. 

210. INIcLean House, where General Lee Surrendered. 

213. Spot where Generals Lee and Grant ]\Iet. 

214. View of the Potomac from INIt. Vernon Porch. 

215. State Library Building. Richmond, Va. 
220. Goshen Pass, Virginia. 

222. Jar.-.es River Scenery near Natural Bridge, Va. 

223. Scene at the \Yharves, Richmond, Va. 

224. The Site of General Lee's Farewell Address to his Soldiers, 

225. Libby Prison, Richmond, Va. 

227. State Capitol and Washington Monument, Richmond, Va. 

228. • Manassas Battlefield Scene, Virginia. 
221). Lace Water Falls, Natural Bridge, Va. 
230. Arbor Vitae Walk, Natural Bridge, Va. 

301. The Center cf Combat, Manassas Battlefield, Virginia. 

302. Blanton Church. Petersburg. Va. 

306. "Middle Falls," at Great Falls of the Potomac. 

308. Ruins of Jail used in George Washington's Time, at Great 

Falls, Va. 
318. Massive Masoni'y Lock of Canal Built bv George \\'ashington 

at Great Falls, Va. 

322. A Negro Baptizing in Dixie Land. 

323. Tomb of the Washingtons, Mt. Vernon, Va. 

324. James River and Blue Ridge ^Mountain Scenery, Virginia. 

326. Home of George Washington, jNlt. Vernon, Va. 

327. The Famous Stone Bridge Across Bull Run at Manassas Bat- 

tlefield, Virginia. 

401. State Capitol, Richmond, Va. (front view). 

402. Henry House, Manassas Battlefield, Virginia. 

403. Christ Church, Alexandria, Va. 

407. Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg. Va. 

410. Dickie House, Great Falls of the Potomac, Virginia, in which 

every President of the United States has dined. 
412. St. John's Church, Richmond, Va. 

415. Red Spruce Forest, Virginia. 

416. Home and Grave of Patrick Henry, ''Red Hill." Charlotte Co. 

Va. 

425. Captain John Smith's Fort -^nd Carlisle House, Alexandria, 

Va. 

426. Lock Hewn in Solid Rock by George Washington, at Great 

Falls, Va. 
503. The Rotunda, University of Virginia. 
513. Serpentine Wall, University of Virginia. 



DEC 8 1913 



